Fire burned 11,000 acres in two counties, now contained

Firefighter crews battling the Watermelon Hill fire, seven miles southwest of Cheney and four miles east of Interstate 90 finally reached their goal Tuesday — total containment.

Cheney Fire Chief Mike Winters, one of a number of fire departments and districts working on the blaze, reported Tuesday night that the fire was 100 percent contained at 11,000 acres. Crews were beginning to demobilze Tuesdya, with Department of Natural Resources units remaining onsite through the week.

Over 300 firefighters were on the ground battling the Watermelon Hill Fire. The DNR, Lincoln County Fire District 1,...