Tumwater firefighters battle brush fire near I-5 Tuesday
Tumwater firefighters battled a brush fire along Interstate 5 Tuesday evening that burned through nearby power lines, the Tumwater Fire Department said.
Calls came in just before 6 p.m., according to Chief Scott LaVielle. Initially, it was reported as a “small, non-threatening brush fire” near milepost 102 on northbound I-5, but it soon began spreading up a tree and affecting power lines off nearby Linderson Street.
LaVielle estimates the fire grew to cover an area roughly 200 yards by 50 yards.
Responders were concerned that embers flying from the fire could threaten structures in the area, LaVielle told The Olympian, so crews performed “ember control” around nearby storage units and apartment complexes.
Engines from McLane Black Lake and Olympia fire departments assisted in the response, and Tumwater police and Public Works were requested to shut down Linderson due to smoke on the 6000 block, according to LaVielle.
Puget Sound Energy also responded to address power lines that the fire had burned.
The state Department of Natural Resources arrived about 7:45 p.m. to take over mopping up hot spots, LaVielle said.
Witnesses said the fire was caused by a boat that fell off a trailer, LaVielle confirmed, the friction of which would’ve caused the ignition.
“It’s dry, and roads in and around neighborhoods that have dry grass and trees along the freeway are just ripe right now, because it’s so hot and dry, to torch off — so that’s pretty much what happened,” he said.
LaVielle emphasized that it’s important for homeowners to ensure they have “good, defensible space” by clearing dry vegetation and trees near homes or other structures, that everyone should be careful with grills and other sources of igntion, and that a burn ban is currently in place throughout the county.
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