Vehicles damaged in fire outside Olympia apartment complex early Wednesday
A pickup behind an apartment complex on Olympia’s east side caught fire in the early morning hours Wednesday, and the blaze spread to a passenger car and damaged paint on two more cars before it was extinguished, according to the Olympia Fire Department.
Firefighters were dispatched to the Merritt Manor apartment complex at 3335 Martin Way E. about 2:50 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Jason Loffler told The Olympian.
An engine company arrived to find a Dodge Ram pickup on fire that had been parked about 50 feet from the building, Loffler said. It had rolled forward about 25-30 feet as it burned, into a landscape island where the fire spread to a passenger car parked adjacent to the island, according to Loffler. Firefighters heard popping noises they believe were caused by paint cans exploding in the back of the pickup.
Loffler said he requested additional units, and another engine and a truck company responded along with a battalion chief. It took about 15 minutes to get the fire under control, Loffler said.
Both the pickup and the passenger vehicle that caught fire suffered heavy damage, according to Loffler, while heat from the fire damaged paint on two more nearby passenger cars and a Chevrolet Tahoe initially parked next to the pickup was reportedly scraped when the pickup rolled.
None of the vehicles were occupied and no injuries were reported, Loffler said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Olympia Police Department also responded to the scene; Police Lt. Paul Lower said detectives will be working with the fire department to determine whether any crimes occurred.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 8:42 AM.
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