LAST WEEK'S STORIESHISTORY
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September 24, 2001 Thirtymile report set for release today Thirtymile report set for release today The Forest Service has called a press conference for Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Yakima to release the report of a special investigation into the July 10 deaths of four firefighters in the Thirtymile Fire. Agency officials said the press conference was scheduled to begin at 10 a. m. in the Yakima Convention Center. Three of the four firefighters who perished were residents of the Yakima area and all were assigned to the Forest Service Naches district. The News will have coverage of the findings in our Oct. 3 issue and, if available, will post the complete Forest Service investigation report on this web site. About 300 firefighters working the 320-acre Boundary Fire in the Pasayten Wilderness were expecting to have it totally contained by late Tuesday (Sept. 25). The fire, started by lightning Sept. 19, was burning through dense forest 35 miles north of Winthrop, about a mile from the Canadian border. Typically, fires in the Pasayten Wilderness would be left to burn Forest Service officials say, but blazes in close proximity to the international border are directly suppressed to keep them from spreading into Canada. Meanwhile, crews continue to work the Rex Creek Fire, just over the Sawtooth Ridge. This 53,141-acre fire is now 95 percent contained. It has cost $11.2 million to fight since it started Aug. 12. Opinion | Sports | Local Interest |