Investigators determine cause of Winona fire

WINONA — Local fire crews contained the Winona Fire after it decimated 2,525 acres last weekend, and the investigation as to what started the fire has been finalized.

Whitman County Emergency Management has announced that the fire was started by a Gold Eagle that tangled itself up in powerlines.

“A bird got tangled up in the powerlines during the wind storm, and we believe it was a Gold Eagle. It was an act of nature,” said Whitman County Emergency Management Director Bill Tensfeld. “We had two different investigators come out, and they came to the same conclusion.”

Author Bio

Olivia Harnack, Editorial Reporter

Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.

• Email: editor@wcgazette.com