South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue (SPOFR) was proud to help ensure a safe and enjoyable Halloween for our community this year. SPOFR volunteers provided safe street crossings throughout downtown Newport during the annual Halloween event. The turnout was impressive—an estimated 1,500 people attended, including families, trick-or-treaters, and local businesses who joined in the fun. The [...]
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that the fire danger ratings in Pend Oreille County will move to “Low” on Friday, October 17, at 00:01. Rule burns will be allowed beginning IMMEDIATELY for forest debris (individual pile size is limited to ten feet). For burn piles that do not meet the requirements of [...]
South Pend Oreille Fire Resuce continues to be busy! Just before noon on Wednesday the 15th, SPOFR responded to a reported structure fire in the area of Deer Valley and Gray Rd, finding a fully involved travel trailer converted for permanent inhabitance. Both dry grass and multiple other structures were threatened, but a quick attack within [...]
On Friday, October 3rd, South Pend Oreille Fire Rescue was alerted to a hazardous materials incident in the City of Newport. SPOFR responded and found approximately 300 gallons of a toxic substance on the ground, running East into Oldtown, Idaho. Due to the quick efforts of the affected business and SPOFR Engines 11 and 31, the [...]
Burn Ban Update for Pend Oreille County Effective Friday, October 3, 2025, 12:01 am The Fire Danger in Pend Oreille County is “Moderate.” All debris burning remains prohibited in Pend Oreille County. This includes rule (debris) burning and permit burning. Campfires and Recreational fires are permitted in all of Pend Oreille County, subject to the following [...]
Fire Chief/Paramedic Shane Stocking will again participate in a medical mission trip to the Puno Region of Peru, specifically the city of Ayaviri, Peru. This is over his twentieth medical mission to Peru and Africa, and his ninth to this specific spot with this team. He has been participating in these volunteer missions since 2013. These [...]
Just after 1pm on September 9th, multiple 911 calls were received for a column of smoke in the area of Scotia Road and Xanadu Ranch. SPOFR's policy is to respond in force to jump on all Pend Oreille fires when they are small, and due to a great response and some help from our friends, we [...]
It's back-to-school time again this year, and Stratton Elementary School needs your support. Stratton Elementary students are at the 67% poverty level, which makes buying school supplies for larger families an overwhelming burden. So this year, South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue is partnering with Stratton Elementary School, Mountain West Bank, and WAFD Bank in Newport [...]
Fire Danger is VERY HIGH. Effective Friday, July 18th, all campfires & recreational fires are prohibited in Pend Oreille County PEND OREILLE COUNTY BURNING CONTROLS IN EFFECT The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced a ban on campfires as of Friday, July 18th, on all lands protected from wildfire by the Department of Natural [...]
Fire Danger is HIGH. Rule and Permit burns are banned Effective July 11, 2025 at 0001 hours: All debris burning on DNR jurisdiction is prohibited. This includes rule burning and permit burning. Campfires are allowed in approved, designated campgrounds only. Contact the county for information on recreation burning on improved property. Contact Department of Ecology to [...]
