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Arson fires on Highway-95

by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
Staff Writer | July 30, 2020 1:00 AM

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County firefighters responded to multiple wildfires along Highway 95 south of milepost 499 around 3:45 p.m. on Monday, July 27. The fires allegedly are due to arson.

Smoke plumes were seen and reported by emergency responders, with initial communications indicating two brush fires in Sandy Ridge. There were additional fires north of the Sandy Ridge fires.

According to Boundary County firefighters, there were six separate fires, spanning over half a mile along the west side, or southbound lanes, of Highway 95.

“Boundary County fire agencies, the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office, Idaho Department of Lands and the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office are conducting an investigation and consider these fires to be intentionally set,” Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office officials said in a press release.

Southbound Highway 95 there were intense fires that engulfed a utility pole in flames. Emergency services quickly extinguished the fires within hours.

According to Boundary County Fire Prevention Co-Op, Boundary County has gone to a “high” fire danger rating; increasing fuels and fire conditions can be drier and more dangerous than they appear.

If you have any information about these fires, please contact the Idaho Arson Hotline at 1-877-75ARSON.

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Multiple emergency service agencies arrive on the scene of a fire reported in the area of Highway 95 south of milepost 499 around 3:45 p.m. Monday. Arson is suspected in several wildfires reported this week.

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(Photo by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) Multiple emergency service agencies arrive on the scene of a fire reported in the area of Highway 95 south of milepost 499 around 3:45 p.m. Monday. Arson is suspected in the fires.

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(Photo by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) Firemen begin to extinguish multiple firesreported in the 499000 block of U.S. 95 on Monday afternoon.

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(Photo by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) Firemen begin to extinguish multiple fires reported in the 499000 block of U.S. 95 on Monday afternoon.

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(Photo by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) Wildfires spread along southbound lane in the the 499000 block of U.S. 95 on Monday afternoon.

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(Photo by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) A utility pole is engulfed in flames after a suspected arson fire was reported on Monday in the 499000 block of U.S. 95.

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(Photo by VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) Firemen race to extinguish multiple wildfires in the 499000 block of U.S. 95 on Monday afternoon.