Updated at 1:28 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The forest fire west of Centralia is 10 percent contained this morning, but covers an area of 40 acres that began about three miles past the end of Teague Road yesterday.
Riverside Fire Authority’s public information officer reports this morning 100 people from Lewis, Pacific and Cowlitz counties are on the scene.
There is no threat to any structures currently, according to Capt. Scott Weinert.
Crews from the Centralia area fire department were called about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon when a slash pile was discovered burning in a clear cut area off a logging road.
The speed at which the flames spread and in that type of landscape is something not often seen by Centralia firefighters, according to Chief Mike Kytta.
“It’s uncharacteristic for our area,” he said. “In my experience over the last 30 years, this is the third one.”
Personnel from the the state Department of Natural Resources were called in at the beginning, and arrived within about about a half hour, Kytta said.
The fire department described the terrain as rough, with 40-year-old timber on property owned by the state Department of Natural Resources. The area is a mix, with land owned also by three private timber companies in the vicinity, Kytta said.
The initial response included Kytta, Assistant Chief Mack, 12 firefighters and seven pieces of equipment.
“(Chief Mack) was seeing fire devils come through, where wind gets everything spinning like a tornado,” Kytta said. “Flames would shoot 60 feet up a tree in a matter of moments.”
The fire is some distance away from any homes, he said, indicating perhaps a half mile would have been the closest.
Kytta said the fire last night spread in a 360-degree pattern out from the point of origin, with flames pushing to the west.
The scene was turned over to DNR last night and Riverside crews assisted until dark.
Three loads of retardant were dropped from the air last night and helicopters will be used today, according to Weinert.
The National Weather Service this morning issued a red flag warning for dangerous fire weather, for nearly all of Western Washington. Thunder and lightening are predicted for tonight. Temperatures today in Centralia are forecast to be in the mid 90s.
The fire prompted a type three state mobilization.
DNR brought in additional resources this morning and set up a base of operations at Centralia High School. They are expecting to be on the fire through Saturday, according to Weinert.
Members of Riverside Fire Authority today are on standby, and ready to protect any structures or be available for any emergency medical services, according to Kytta.
The concerns today are two-fold, the chief said.
The “fuel package” is very dry, because of the stretch of hot weather and the area could get lightening tonight and the conditions that would bring, he said.
“You’ll have the wind pick up and that can cause spotting and spreading of the fire,” he said.
DNR today banned all outdoor burning on DNR protected lands, including campfires and offered a message to those who ignore them: Those who start or spread fires are subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Why can noone comment on the aug 11, 8 pm stories?