Dozens of families are still not allowed in their homes following one of the Spokane Complex Fires burning near Valleyford.
The fire was sparked when wind knocked over a tree that knocked over a power line on Sunday, fire officials said.
That flame has quickly grown to 3,000 acres. Farmers in the area had to work fast after crops started to catch on fire. Michael Mahn had 200 acres of barley burn up quickly.
“It came across that field and once it went it was nonstop," Mahn said.
Mahn said the crops were in the middle of harvest when it happened.
"It started our direction and it came with all sorts of fury," Mahn said.
Other Valleyford farmers said they have seen many fire seasons, but none as destructive as this one.
"We knew something was wrong and anticipating it was going to go out pretty soon, they were going to get a handle on it with the wind blowing it didn't," Mahn said.
Farmers banded together to make sure the fires were not more destructive.
"I think the farmers need to be praised 200 percent,” farmer Jack Lacher said. “They stopped the fire, not the fire department."
Lacher said he and his neighbors drew more than 10,000 gallons of water from their wells. Most of it, before firefighters arrived on scene.