Wednesday 10 September 2014

Fast-moving brush fire in Elma at same time ‘red flag warning’ issued


Firefighters were able to extinguish a grass fire which ignited just more than 20 feet away from a home without any structural damage Wednesday afternoon.


Crews from Grays Harbor District 5, the City of Elma and Grays Harbor District 2, as well as individuals from the Department of Natural Resources, responded to a grass fire off Schouweiler Road in unincorporated Elma near the Value Ford just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday.


District 5 Fire Chief Dan Prater said when he arrived on scene the flames were about six feet in height. Firefighters worked to knock down the flames and contained the fire in around 30 minutes. Prater said the crews got some help from the wind, which shifted to the southwest to push the flames away from the home that was near the blaze.


Prater said a few trees were damaged, but there was no damage to any structures in the area.


“We know the area that it started in but we don’t know a cause for sure,” Prater said. “It started just off the roadway so most likely a cigarette flicked out of a window or something like that.”


Prater also stressed the importance of individuals using caution with warm weather conditions.


A Red Flag Warning has been issued for King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Kitsap, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Clallam and Mason counties from 6 a.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday. High humidity, warm temperatures and gusty winds will contribute to active fire behavior and rapid rates of spread on existing fires.


A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to active fire behavior and rapid rates of spread on existing fires.



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