Fire crews respond to driftwood blaze at Keystone

It was an unusual Fourth of July weekend for Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue. The agency responded to two vegetation fires on the opposite sides of Coupeville over the weekend, including a Fourth of July grass fire Monday night near Snakelum Point that was started by fireworks.

It was an unusual Fourth of July weekend for Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue.

“It was pretty busy but the Fourth was quietest of all the days,” Fire Chief Ed Hartin said.

The agency responded to two vegetation fires on the opposite sides of Coupeville over the weekend, including a Fourth of July grass fire Monday night near Snakelum Point that was started by fireworks.

Residents were able to put out the fire with a garden hose before emergency crews arrived, Hartin said.

Sunday morning started with a predawn fire at Keystone State Park where crews responded to about 60 feet of driftwood ablaze.

“It had been burning for a while,” said Hartin, who added that the cause appeared to be an unattended campfire, which is not permitted at the state park.

Foam from a brush rig was used to extinguish the fire. The call came in at 3:05 a.m. and crews stayed until after 5 a.m. to put out hot spots.

Central Whidbey Fire’s marine rescue unit was involved in multiple responses last week both in Saratoga Passage and Admiralty Inlet. Two calls revolved around boats adrift after anchors had slipped. One drifted from Penn Cove to Camano Island.

The rescue boat experienced a minor electrical issue that was going to keep it out of service for part of this week, Hartin said.

 

 

 

 

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