It only took firefighters with the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority four minutes and 25 seconds to make it to the scene of a brush fire on 183rd Avenue in Rochester after crews were dispatched at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7.
Another 10 minutes was all it took for firefighters to fully contain the fire, which burned almost half an acre of vegetation and threatened nearby structures.
“We managed to get around it and protect two homes and an outbuilding without any damage,” West Thurston Chief Rob Smith said.
Firefighters with South Thurston Fire & EMS, the McLane Black Lake Fire Department and the state Department of Natural Resources also responded.
The fire was likely caused by “a fire pit that got out of control,” Smith said.
Factors in firefighters’ favor Monday were that there was a fully-staffed fire station nearby and firefighters were able to quickly size up the situation, Smith said.
The temperature and wind conditions, however, were not in firefighters’ favor.
“Our message to the community is to make sure you’re aware of the local burn requirements and restrictions that are in place,” Smith said.
A fire safety burn ban is in effect in Thurston County through Sept. 29.
More information on the burn ban is available online at https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/burn-ban-information.
