A fire on highway 270, just east of Pullman, climbed rapidly up a hillside Thursday afternoon, threatening a home at the top and eventually spanning four acres.

A worker from PWC Construction, a company hired by the city to install sewer lines along the highway, told firefighters a spark from a welder got away and apparently landed on the brushy hillside.

Firefighters from Whitman County Rural District 12 responded around 2:40 p.m. and immediately requested support from other departments. Chief Lester Erwin said the fire reached within 150 yards of the home.

The effort involved personnel and equipment from the Pullman, Palouse, Colton and Moscow Rural fire departments. Two tankers were on scene to supply water to the trucks.

In addition to the field, the blaze scorched several trees and blackened one power pole. Crews remained on scene for several hours after it was extinguished to check for hot spots.

Officials urge residents to be extremely cautious when working with any equipment that causes sparks.

A press release by Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson, the fire department’s information officer, states: “In this particular case, there was plenty of room away from the hillside and on asphalt where the welding could have taken place safely without incident.”

Due to dry conditions and increased potential for wildfires, a burn ban remains in effect in most of Whitman County.