More than 50 firefighters battled multiple fires at the same time across southwest Snohomish County Tuesday afternoon, including several brush fires and a house
More than 50 firefighters battled multiple fires at the same time across southwest Snohomish County Tuesday afternoon, including several brush fires and a house fire near Lake Ballinger in Edmonds.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
Around 2:20 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a brush fire in the center median of northbound Interstate 5 just past exit 186. A few minutes later, crews responded to a second fire report on the Interurban Trail near 124th Street SE in unincorporated Everett. The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed a total of three brush fires in those areas. Officials said no structures were impacted and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fires is under investigation.
Just before 3 p.m., while firefighters continued working on the brush fires, other crews were dispatched to a house fire near Lake Ballinger in Edmonds. First-arriving firefighters found heavy fire in the single-story home, with flames spreading into the attic and threatening a neighboring home. Two people inside the home safely escaped before firefighters arrived.
Firefighters attacked the flames while other crews searched the home to confirm no one else was inside. Officials said firefighters stopped the fire just as it began to ignite the neighbor’s fence and gained control of the flames within about 15 minutes. One firefighter suffered a minor injury during the response, and no one else was hurt.
“When multiple incidents happen at the same time, response is a highly coordinated effort,” said John Chalfant, South County Fire assistant chief of operations. “Our strength is in our network of 15 fire stations and our regional partnerships, allowing us to coordinate resource needs with neighboring departments. By working together, we can ensure every emergency receives the necessary support.”
Three people displaced from the Edmonds home are receiving assistance from Support 7 and the American Red Cross. The cause of the house fire is also under investigation.
