Fire contained on N. Touchet Road; disaster averted says chief
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Fire District No. 3 fire fighters mounted an attack on a fire on the North Touchet which had the potential to blow up into a major fire event, according to Jeromy Phinney, chief. At two points in the attack, Phinney says, his paid and volunteer fire fighters pushed into burning areas and quelled the flames before they could spread.
DAYTON–An accidentally started fire in the 900 block of North Touchet Road was contained to around three or four acres with some vehicles, fencing and trees sustaining damage on Monday, August 28, but the flames were literally seconds from breaking out and erupting into a major fire incident, says Fire District 3 Chief Jeromy Phinney.
The fire was accidentally started by homeowner Tom Konen, who was treating ground around his residence with gopher gasser, which caught on dry vegetation in the early afternoon. District 3 responded to at about 2:30 p.m. by numerous units to the 910 N. Touchet Road address and battled the flames which spread to Jerry and Ruth Dedloff's property at 914 N. Touchet Road.
"I'm more impressed and proud of the guys and gals of my department," Phinney said, "because that fire was literally within ten seconds from getting out of control.
"It was about ten seconds from getting to Jim Creek and about a minute from getting to the [Dedloff] house," Phinney said.
The entire crew made a difference, Phinney pointed out, singling out a unit driven by Clay Hutchens with Kyle Huttinga on board that pulled into the driveway and "nosed in" to see if they could save the house. "I don't know how hot it got," Phinney said, "but it was hot. Trees were torching, heavy brush was burning, vehicles were burning on both sides of the driveway, but they were able to get through somehow and save the house."
At the bottom of Jim Creek, Phinney was talking to one of the landowners when Bob Albee and Jim Neace rolled by. The rig's window was down and Phinney got Albee's attention with a shout. The crew turned, saw the spot fire, and pushed into the smoke and heat to extinguish it, he said.
"Any one in my department would've done it," Phinney said. "They just happened to be the ones.
"Those four people just happened to be in crucial spots," he continued, "but, for sure, those two instances saved the fire from getting out of control."
A Dept. of Natural Resources helicopter circled the scene but was unable to drop.
