West Thurston Regional Fire Authority

West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Press Release

Rochester, WA September 12, 2011 -- A elderly couple of was left saddened when fire destroyed an unoccupied mobile home that they used for storage. The fire broke out approximately 2:13pm in the 5500 block of 183 Ave SW. Firefighters responded after the owner saw flames in their wrecking yard, which they live on site. The first arriving unit reported an approximately 5 acre fire in the wrecking yard portion of their property and spreading rapidly to the open area beyond the fenced area. West Thurston RFA, DNR, East Olympia, Tenino Fire and Mclane/Black Lake Fire responded with tenders and engine companies, Battalions and a rehab unit. In all, approximately 20 firefighters from 4 fire agencies and 20 wildland firefighters from DNR were able to get containment of the fire by 3:40pm under the unified command of West Thurston Fire and DNR. Riverside Fire Authority from Centralia covered calls for West Thurston while fire crews battled the blaze.

The couple lost everything in the mobile home that they used to store family heirlooms. In addition several vehicles used for parts in the wrecking yard sustained damage. Adjacent property was under threat with 9 horses, but the firefighters contained the fast moving fire before it could spread. The fire is under investigation, but it thought that a cigarette from an earlier customer may have started the fire by accident.

Please call Lt. Lanette Dyer (PIO), West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, with any questions.