SPOKANE, Wash. — On Wednesday, members of Spokane's South Hill community banded together to help put out a brush fire that sparked after a power line was downed during a wind and dust storm.
"As I looked down, these wires were shooting out sparks," said Jill Lee, the owner of the home whose backyard caught fire. "Neighbors came and just gathered hoses, and the wind kept taking it towards the fence, like really long, shooting flames."
Neighbors brought hoses and some even took to stomping on the fire in attempts to put it out.
Lee's backyard was burned and the fire spread to her neighbor, Amy Warren's yard.
"The shower of sparks coming down, and the wind goes this way. It was unnerving," said Warren.
Firefighters arrived at the scene quickly and put the fire out in hours. No one was injured in the fire and there was no reported damage to either Lee's or Warren's homes.
But one beloved element of the South Hill was lost in the flames. A loss for many who live and drive on the South Hill, Lee's decorative giant skeleton, Skele.
"We stuck him out on the street just so people could see him," said Lee.
For years, Skele stood watch over Lee's backyard and the drivers making their way along Southeast Boulevard. Lee says most years, Skele would have been moved out of the backyard by now.
"This was the only year I didn't move them because my daughter is out of town doing home hospice with my elderly mom, so I had nobody to help me carry it," said Lee.
All that remains of the giant skeleton is its wire frame.
"Everybody we know is aware of it. We describe where we live as behind Southeast, right behind Skele," said the neighboring Res family.
Skele will be affectionately remembered by neighbors and community members.
"You know where the skeleton is and it made my life really easy when trying to explain to people where my house is," said Warren.
Lee says her plans for Halloween decorating will have to undergo a few changes this year.
"We have a cute idea for doing something with what's there right now, you know, like maybe bandaging him up in a burn bandage or something," said Lee
She also says she plans to contact the power company, Avista, to ask for help recovering what was damaged in the fire.
"...see if they would be willing to just clean up and replace the fence," said Lee.
Warren's backyard was also damaged in the fire and she says she is thankful for the community members who stepped in to help her and Lee prevent even further damage.
"It's just property. Thank god everyone is okay and thank goodness we have really good neighbors," said Warren.