News brief: Electrical issue may have sparked Salkum business fire

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The preliminary cause of the blaze that destroyed a mechanic’s shop business in the Salkum area yesterday afternoon is something electrical, according to Lewis County Fire District 8.

Four fire departments responded the call just after noon at Schoen and Stowell roads about a mile north of Salkum, according to District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel.

When he arrived, flames were shooting some 65 feet above the building, and propane tanks were exploding, McDaniel said. Burning tires made it harder to extinguish.

“It was one of the hottest fires in my 30-year career,” he said.

Nobody was there when it happened and nobody was injured, according to the chief. Robert’s Repair and towing business is pretty much a total loss, he said.

Salkum firefighters were joined by crews from Mossyrock, Onalaska and Napavine. More than 20 firefighters were on the scene about five hours, he said.

A fire investigator is looking into the cause.

McDaniel, 46, was just named chief of District 8 early last month replacing Chief George Penzenik.

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