QUILCENE — Firefighters are seeking information about a theft of $2,000 worth of firefighting equipment from the site of the Cabin Creek Fire in the Olympic National Forest southwest of Quilcene.
An 1,800-gallon folding water tank, hose and fittings were stolen after firefighters left the site of the fire on Sunday, said Rita Chandler, fire staff officer, in a statement late Tuesday.
“Without this equipment the fire grew to 10 acres,” Chandler said. “Firefighters had to work hard to regain control of the fire.”
She said that the thief ignored the closure of Forest Service Road 2530 beyond the 2530-100 Road, which has been in place since Aug. 12, to get to the site.
“It’s hard to believe with the limited resources available nationally that someone would take a water tank that was being used to protect the forest and public,” District Ranger Dean Yoshina said.
The Cabin Creek fire, which is just southeast of the Brothers Wilderness, remained at 10 acres on Tuesday, according to the fire managers’ report.
An investigation into the theft is underway.
Anyone with information is asked to call 360-765-2218.
