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Wildfire Threatening Structures On Colville Indian Reservation

Three small fires believed sparked by lightning have now converged into what is being called the Devil’s Elbow Complex on the Colville Indian Reservation.

The blaze, which spans 2,500 acres, is threatening about 50 structures on the reservation 10 miles north of the town of Keller. 

The hot, dry conditions have been a major hindrance to firefighters, but fire spokeswoman Kathy Moses says there is another complication to the fire on the reservation.

“It was approximately two years ago when we had a windstorm that came through the area, and it knocked down a lot of trees. So there is a lot of slash on the ground," Moses said. "The fire is burning hot in a lot of dead trees that are still on the ground.”

Moses says it has been several years since a major fire has burned on the reservation.