Firefighters from multiple departments battle grass, hay fire off Rice Road this afternoon.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Just two days after county officials enacted outdoor burning restrictions because of potential fire danger, flames tore through fields in south Chehalis southwest of Interstate 5.
Veronica Redl and relatives were just returning to her home on Rice Road from the store this afternoon when they saw billowing smoke behind her two-acre property.
“We were kind of awestruck ourself,” Redl said. “We saw a lot of smoke.”
The Chehalis Fire Department was called at 2:37 p.m. for a small amount of fire around a hay baler, with a couple of bales which had ignited. Fire Capt. Rob Gebhart estimated the piece of equipment was 400 to 500 yards behind the first house that sits across the street from Stan Hedwall Park.
“Then the wind kicked in, and it took off,” Gebhart said.
Chehalis Firefighter Steve Emrich said it took only two to three minutes before flames spread to more than 10 acres, heading south and west.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported more than 30 acres burned, belonging to several different property owners.
Emrich this evening said he understood it was estimated at 100 acres.
They focused on protecting homes and outbuildings along the rural road.
“We tried to get in front of it with water, which we did,” Gebhart said. And someone with a dozer cut a fire line which was a huge help, he said.
Part of what burned was hayfield already cut, and fields with still tall hay and grass, he said.
They were assisted by crews from Lewis County Fire District 6, Riverside Fire Authority, Lewis County Fire District 5, Lewis County Fire District 1 and the state Department of Natural Resources. A brush truck from Toledo passing by even stopped and joined them, Gebhart said.
Rice Road was shut down from the park to Labree Road, and some residences were evacuated, according to the sheriff’s office.
Nobody was hurt. Fences and equipment were damaged, the sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page.
The Chehalis Fire Department was back at the station by about 6 p.m. DNR personnel continued at the scene mopping up.
“We were lucky we were able to keep it out of a couple of super dry fields,” Emrich said.
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An estimated 100 acres were consumed; fences and equipment were damaged, but nobody was injured.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter