SEQUIM — Two structure fires damaged a manufactured home and a joint garage apartment building on Friday night and Saturday morning, straining resources for Clallam County Fire District 3 prior to staff’s involvement in the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Grand Parade, district leaders said.
Battalion Chief Elliott Jones said fire crews first responded to a single-story manufactured home with smoke showing from its eves and roof about 4:57 p.m. Friday in the 4000 block of Sequim-Dungeness Way. Initially, they attempted an offensive fire control operation, he said, but an exterior crew spotted a sagging roof, so firefighters transitioned to a defensive operation and withdrew from the house.
Outside, fire crews applied water to achieve knockdown, Jones said.
No one was inside the home or injured from the fire, he said, and crews retrieved some personal items for the owner.
The fire district had a fire watch throughout the night and early morning; its cause remained under investigation Monday.
Firefighters responded to a separate structure fire at 6 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of McComb Lane, where residents noticed heavy smoke coming from a garage with an apartment above it. Jones said crews started fire suppression and searched the residences.
Teams worked to ventilate the home, which significantly improved visibility and facilitated the rapid control of the fire within 40 minutes, Jones said.
No one was injured in the incident, which also remained under investigation Monday.
“These back-to-back fires and additional emergencies tested the readiness and resilience of (the fire district), highlighting the community’s mix of career and volunteer response mechanisms and the critical role of its firefighters,” Jones said.
“As investigations continue, the district remains vigilant and prepared for any additional incidents, especially with the upcoming local festivities.”
May 8 fire
Firefighters responded earlier the week to a residential structure fire at a detached shop on the 800 block of Shore Road in Port Angeles. The 9-1-1 call was reported at 1:19 a.m. on Wednesday.
Battalion Chief Chris Turner said firefighters from Carlsborg Station 33 arrived first and began extinguishing the fire with water on their truck.
Their actions contained the fire to the exterior of the structure, causing only minor damage in a 4-foot by 8-foot area, Turner said.
The cause remained under investigation Monday.
The homeowner was alerted to the fire because his dog began barking and he heard the sound of arcing power lines, Turner said.
He added the fire department suggests residents install modern smoke detectors connected between outbuildings and homes to increase early warning of remote fires such as this incident.
Clallam PUD assisted at the incident, and mutual aid was requested and canceled for Clallam Fire District 2.
A fire early on Saturday damaged a garage/apartment building in the 100 block of McComb Lane in Sequim. (Elliott Jones/Clallam County Fire District 3)
A fire inside a detached shop on Wednesday on Shore Road was contained to a small area, fire officials said. (Chris Turner/Clallam County Fire District 3)
