Brush fire spreads to edge of Interstate 5, slows traffic
Monday, August 4, 2008 12:32 AM PDT
By The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleA brush fire south of Castle Rock that grew to nearly three acres brought northbound traffic on Interstate 5 to a crawl and shut down Exit 46 at Headquarters Road early Sunday evening.
The fire started around 4:30 p.m. and sidled up to the interstate's northbound shoulder. It spread to trees and threatened to jump the road into Headquarters Ridge, Cowlitz Fire District 6 Chief Eric Koreis said.
Authorities shut down the northbound on- and off-ramps at Exit 46, as well as the overpass. Police also closed the far-right northbound lane of I-5 for about a mile.
Forty-two firefighters from Cowlitz fire districts 2, 3 and 6 as well as the state Department of Natural Resources battled the fire.
The blaze was largely extinguished by 7 p.m.
No one was injured. Koreis said the cause was still under investigation Sunday evening.
gnildir wrote on Aug 4, 2008 2:26 AM:
" The fire must have actually started at around 4:10 pm. I saw that fire when it was only minutes old, I have tried to call 911 but the lines were so jammed up, and I called my friend who runs the RV park that is very close to where that fire was at. By the time my friend and the neighbors were calling 911 for firefighters, it took about 20 minutes before anyone shown up. When I mean anyone, not even the state patrol or the sheriffs even show up until after the fire department did. I saw that fire when it was about 5 feet wide, and I was going to turn around and snuff it out, but it already has doubled its size. Now... 20 minutes... that's ridiculous! 911 originally dispatched Castle Rock and Toutle fire department. Where the hell was Lexington fire department at? Come on now, it's fire season and they need to have at least a team stationed at the fire department at all time. Oh yeah, speaking of that, where was DNR at? It's the peak of fire season and DNR does not keep a crew on stand-by? Not only that, DNR was just right down the road from where the fire was.. OK neighbors in the woods... Is your tax dollars properly at work? 20 minutes?!?!? We dont need another Oakland fire here neighbors! "
mikadax wrote on Aug 4, 2008 8:19 AM:
" to gnildir,,,it didnt take 20 minutes until crews were on scene! Why don't you request the official dispatch times from the county and get your facts straight!!! "
Rural Citizen wrote on Aug 4, 2008 9:42 AM:
" I think the firefighters did a fine job. The fire is out and a wide conflagration didn't happen. Now can we find the CAUSE?
a NOTE to off road ATV and motorcycles:
Please please, don't be dumb. Your hot motors can spark fires. In this season you really should stay out of the woods.
I saw trucks carrying motorcycles and ATV's being evacuated from the Mt. Adams fire last month on the news, one after another, and not one person would think for a minute that they accidentally started the fire. As a matter of fact, when this kind of fire starts the rider doesn't SEE the spark, he is a quarter mile away before the first puff of smoke comes up. THAT is why it is so dangerous. "
a NOTE to off road ATV and motorcycles:
Please please, don't be dumb. Your hot motors can spark fires. In this season you really should stay out of the woods.
I saw trucks carrying motorcycles and ATV's being evacuated from the Mt. Adams fire last month on the news, one after another, and not one person would think for a minute that they accidentally started the fire. As a matter of fact, when this kind of fire starts the rider doesn't SEE the spark, he is a quarter mile away before the first puff of smoke comes up. THAT is why it is so dangerous. "
gnildir wrote on Aug 4, 2008 12:10 PM:
" it did take that long. My friend was getting worried by the minute as he lives just right down the road. I stood around for 5 minutes, then I zoomed off to his place, we immediately went back to the fire, tried to snuff it out and we actually slowed it down going North East. Then about 5 to 10 minutes later, they finally show up, then they stood there and dawdled for a bit trying to figure out what to do, and dont say that they did not, BECAUSE MY FRIEND GOT IT ON VIDEO! VIDEOS DONT LIE MY FRIEND. so it was about 15 to 20 minutes. I have seen that fire when it was only about 4 feet wide. One question Mikadax, where exactly were you at when the fire 1st started? On the official dispatch time, I literally had to have my friend call because I could not get through to 911 dispatch. My friend had to call them back several times. Even his neighbors had to try to call back several times. I know that you may say, why didn't you run down there and stomp it out. I had training with DNR, and I was taught, if a fire looks like its going to spread rapidly, and you dont think you can stop it, back off, I did not have any firefighting tools with me. "
BigMike wrote on Aug 4, 2008 3:36 PM:
" Cowlitz county responders are a joke, everyone needs to be prepared to take care of themselves. "
beachbum wrote on Aug 4, 2008 3:53 PM:
" This was not the only fire along I-5 yesterday around this time. I was traveling southbound near the Hwy 12 Morton Exit around 6:30pm. Several cars were stopped with fire extinguishers and several adults and chidren (small at that) were trying to stomp out this fire. Where were the fire fighters, state patrol etc? These people looked like they had been at it awhile. With all the cars pulled over, surely someone had called 911, so I didn't. "
RV wrote on Aug 4, 2008 5:33 PM:
" Remember, these fire departments are staffed with volunteers. They are not just sitting around the fire station waiting for the 911 call. They have other jobs that they need to pay their bills and then offer the communittee their spare time by reponding to your emergency. If you have time to complain about them perhaps you have time to volunteer and see just what it takes to be a firefighter. I bet most of the complainers haven't a clue about how our local fire agencies operate. "
lola*in*longview wrote on Aug 4, 2008 7:06 PM:
" I doubt that there was 20 min response time but IF there was, like you said this IS fire season. If they couldn't make it any sooner then there must have been a reason. Maybe putting out another fire or perhaps saving ones life. They did just fine when they got there. "
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