Fire Dept: Static electricity caused fire that destroyed 2 planes, 2 cars and hangar

EATONVILLE, Wash. — An electrical spark from static electricity destroyed two antique planes, two classic cars and an airplane hangar at Swanson Airfield in Eatonville.

Bob Hudspeth from Eatonville Fire tells KIRO 7 the plane's owner was draining gas from one of the planes Friday afternoon into a plastic bucket.

That's when static electricity caused a spark, lighting the plane on fire, Hudspeth says.

The fire spread to another vintage plane, and two classic cars inside the hangar.

Hudspeth says the elderly man was able to get out of the hangar and call 9-1-1.

One of the planes was a 1940 J3 Cub, and the other was a custom 1941 Luscomb AD, according to Hudspeth.  One of the cars was a 1957 Chevy.

Hudspeth says one of the planes had a cloth skin.

The fire marshal determined the two planes, cars and hangar are a complete loss.  The loss is estimated at $340,000.

KIRO