District 8 fire truck lost in wild fire

MATTAWA - Grant County Fire District No. 8 lost a fire truck on Aug. 31 when a wildfire south of Mattawa surprised firefighters and overcame the truck.

"It was not a controlled burn," Fire Chief Dave Hargroves said.

Hargroves said the blaze was set, but he didn't know as of last Friday if it was set accidentally or purposely. He had no suspect.

Another casualty of the blaze was firefighter Brandy Kirkendall. Hargroves said she was hurt when she fell from the fire-stricken vehicle, but the injury was not life-threatening.

The fire occurred at about 11 a.m. It was near Hans Groenke's Big Fork Orchard, north of Desert Aire on the west side of Highway 243.

The fire consumed 180 acres and required 11 firefighters for about eight hours. The lost truck was worth about $30,000, Hargroves said.

- Staff report