A sergeant with the Centralia Police Department extinguished a burning garbage bin in the 800 block of Yakima Street at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the department announced Thursday.
Sgt. Carl Buster had been proactively checking the area after a “concerned colleague” reported “the odor of burning plastic and smoke,” according to a news release.
There were no reports of a fire in the area at the time, according to the news release.
During his search, Buster reportedly found “a plastic garbage bin engulfed in flames” alongside a home.
“He recognized the immediate danger to the house and the residents inside and advised dispatch to notify the Riverside Fire Authority. He retrieved the fire extinguisher from his patrol car and knocked the fire down to prevent it from spreading. He then retrieved a water hose from the front of the residence to drown the smoldering embers,” the Centralia Police Department said in a news release.
Riverside Fire Authority personnel arrived and verified there was no longer a danger to the residence.
“The cause of the fire was determined to be wood pellets from a BBQ that were mistakenly disposed of in the trash. The wood pellets had been smoldering for hours in the garbage bin before igniting the rest of its contents,” the Centralia Police Department said in a news release. “Due to Sgt. Buster’s quick actions, a residential structure fire and potential loss of lives were prevented.”
The incident highlights the “excellent working relationship” between the Riverside Fire Authority and the Centralia Police Department, the department said in a news release.
“The coordinated efforts of Sgt. Buster and the Riverside Fire Authority are but a small example of how our agencies continue to work to keep our community safe,” the department stated.
No other information about the fire is being released at this time, the department stated.
