7/9/2021 Andrus AM Update

 

Cheney, WA – Crews overnight worked on the line with infrared technology to look for hot spots. This is a piece of technology that provides an extra set of “eyes” to help make sure the fire is totally out and there are no hot spots within the mop up area. Today crews will keep mopping up 200 feet in from the perimeter and start the repair process. In the initial attack of a fire the crews may have to cut fence or drive into areas we wouldn’t normally drive into. It is the goal of the teams to return those areas to the way they were before the fire. The fire is 55% contained, this number is expected to increase this afternoon.

Today the temperatures are expected to be in the mid 90’s with calm winds. There are approximately 272 personnel assigned to the incident and to date there have been no reported injuries or any structures lost.  More crews will check out from the incident today and return to their home agency or move to another fire. The total acreage remains at 232 and is expected to stay at that number.

Evacuation levels: The only evacuation orders that remain in place are at a level 1. This area affects approximately 24 residents that are adjacent to the fire and road blocks are still in place. Local residents only are allowed past the road blocks. This helps with the safety of residents and firefighters on the line.

The Andrus Fire started Monday July 5th at approximately 11:30 am, 3 miles NE of Cheney, near Andrus Rd.  Firefighters from Fire District 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, Airway Heights Fire, Cheney Fire, Spokane City Fire, Spokane Valley Fire, Lincoln County, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and numerous other agencies responded.

Fire information and the incident command post is located at Cheney Middle School in Cheney, WA. Fire information contact is Don Malone at (509) 822-8125 or Jeff Sevigney at (509) 993-2946 or you can also follow us on Facebook @NEWIMT3, or on inciweb https;//inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7607/