Lightning-caused blaze burns down Priest River barn

PRIEST RIVER — A lightning strike started a fire that eventually burned down a pole barn just east of Priest River during Tuesday night’s storm.

The bolt struck a nearby tree, which caught fire and caused flames to spread and destroy the barn located in the 3600 block of Highway 2, according to West Pend Oreille Fire Department Chief Les Kokanos.

“It was fully engulfed when we arrived and ended up being a complete loss,” Kokanos said.

Kokanos said the department, “let the building collapse on itself and focused on keeping the flames from spreading by establishing a perimeter.”

The barn contained mainly hay but also stored household items such as a washing machine and refrigerator. No people or animals were present at the time of the fire.

Volunteer firefighters spent nearly five hours late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning raking, breaking down, and dowsing hay bails. The fire department also used foam, which cools and eliminates oxygen to put it out.

“We didn’t know what the weather the next day would be like, and if it was hot and windy the fire could have easily spread, so we made sure to really knock it down,” Kokanos said.

Fires sparked by lightning strikes are rare in the area, as the chief relayed the department only responds to a couple calls of that variety each year.