FIRE APPARATUS DESTROYED IN WASHINGTON STATE
Thursday, August 20, 2015
The fire was in a wheat field near Gish Road, Lewis County officials said, but it was near a large, 10,000-pound propane tank on a chicken farm.
Donna Sauer says she saw dense, black smoke when she looked out her front yard Wednesday. She immediately started packing up her animals and getting ready to go.
“I was a little on edge because i moved here from Missouri, and my house burned down three years ago. So I was like, not again!”
Dozens of families in the area had to evacuate, when the brush fire made its way to a chicken farm. There was a 10,000-pound propane tank on the property and firefighters were worried it might explode.
“This is the nightmare for a rural district,” says Salkum Fire Chief Duran McDaniel.
Firefighters thought they could stop the fire before it got to the propane tank. But when the winds started picking up, they found themselves in jeopardy.
“To have to turn and get out is not in your nature, never been in your nature,” says McDaniel.
They were forced to leave a $300,000 fire engine behind.
“We did have an engine that got lost in the fire. It was more of a concern for the people around, and getting everybody evacuated.”
Air crews helped them get control of the fire, and they were able to prevent the tank from exploding. Late Wednesday night, Highway 12 was reopened and Sauer was allowed to return home.
“I’m so happy that none of my neighbors were hurt or anything like that.”
McDaniel agrees, even though he wishes they could have saved the barns on the chicken farm.
“I’m thankful that everyone is OK. That was the price, unfortunately. It’s life first. That’s the route we had to go.”
Firefighters believe a tractor driving down a rural road sparked the fire. They have a perimeter around the fire, so they don’t think it will spread anymore. But it will still be a while before it’s completely out.
