CHENEY — Fire officials are expecting gubernatorial candidate and State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz to visit the fire-ravaged areas in Medical Lake and Cheney on Sunday.

At last estimate, the Gray Fire was between 8,000 and 9,500 acres in size - and growing. At least 185 homes, were destroyed Friday, and more succumbed to the flames Saturday.

As the state Department of Natural Resources prepares to turn over management of the growing fire to a Type II Incident Management Team, they are also preparing for Franz, the head of the agency and a Democrat running for governor, to v...