Two Soap Lake fires under investigation

SOAP LAKE - Two fires over three days in the same area of Soap Lake are suspected to be arson, according to Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Kirk Sheppard, who said both fires are suspicious. “There was nothing in the area to start an accidental fire,” Sheppard said. The first fire started about 10 p.m. Friday evening off Lakemore Drive between the road and Highway 28. The fire burned about one acre, heavily damaging the Soap Lake events billboard, and was brought under control by GCFD7 with mutual aid from the Ephrata Fire Department. Mutual aid support was requested due to concerns of wind driving the fire. Sheppard said the scene was cleared by 11:15 p.m. The second fire broke out about 4 a.m. Monday morning, this time from Canna Street S. “The point of origin of the two fires are less than 100 feet apart,” said Sheppard...