Brush fires beset fire district

Snohomish County Fire District 7 responded to a brush fire behind Fryelands Elementary on Wednesday evening.

Crews arrived to find a 750-square-foot area ablaze around 5:30 p.m., however, the school was not threatened by the fire, according to spokesperson Heather Chadwick. A gravel parking lot bordered the fire to the east and a big section of blacktop stood between the brush fire and the school.

Firefighters were able to quickly contain the flames, and no one was injured.

Chadwick reports the agency contacted the Snohomish County Public Utility District, because the fire damaged a power pole. Crews were able to “extinguish the fire and keep it from continuing to spread.”

The fire district responded to two dozen fire-related calls between July 8-22, according to a Thursday news release. Of those, 16 were vegetation fires.

Fire District 7 has eight stations, two of which are in Monroe. Emergency responders cover 98.5 square miles, providing services to 110,000 residents in Monroe, Maltby, Clearview, Mill Creek and other surrounding communities.

“As we continue to experience higher temperatures we want to remind citizens to keep their lawn and plants watered and remove any dead vegetation,” the release states. “Additionally, all residential burning is banned at this time. Recreational fires are still allowed.”

Much of Snohomish County has been operating under a Stage 1 burn ban since July 13, according to the Snohomish County Fire Marshal. The measure was put in place due to the increased risk of fire danger from the hot and dry weather conditions experienced throughout the region, according to a news release.

No outdoor burning is allowed other than recreational fires in unincorporated Snohomish County. The fire marshal reports Sultan, Monroe and several other cities are participating in the burn ban.

“Recreational fires are less than three feet in diameter and two feet high and are for cooking and pleasure only,” according to the release. “Recreational fires must be contained within a fire pit that has been cleared of all combustible material within a 10 foot radius, must be monitored at all times, and must have a water source readily available.”

The fire marshal reports that could be, at the least, an active water hose or five-gallon bucket of water, according to the release. Outdoor burning permits, including those for agricultural use from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, are suspended until the ban is lifted.

“This ban will remain in effect until there is a sustained period of rainfall and the fire risk returns to low,” according to the release.

The fire marshal asks the public to be cautious even with recreational fires, and to consider starting those carefully. For more information and updates, call the county's Outdoor Burning Information Hotline at 425-388-3508.