ROCHESTER, Wash. — A fast-moving fire pushed by high swirling winds across dry grass threatened five homes near Rochester shortly before noon Friday. Flames burned around homes, in some cases scorching exterior walls.
Jacob Giser said he was inside when his girlfriend smelled smoke. “We came out and there’s a little brushfire in front of the house,” said Giser. “We tried to get it under control before it took over the yard but ended up calling the fire department.”
Mike Claggett and some neighbors grabbed hoses trying to stop the flames from spreading. “Garden hoses,” said Claggett. “Fighting back over here as the wind was blowing it toward us.” Clagget said, pointing toward the charred grass. “Trying to save our houses.”
Crews continued tracking down hot spots that were still smoldering hours after the fire. The big danger in the area is the wind. It's unpredictable, and pushed the fire around the area, changing direction by the second.
“It could be coming out of the south one second the then from the north the next,” said West Thurston Regional Fire District Lt. Lanette Dyer.
Like a lot of fire districts, Dyer said West Thurston is being kept busy during this hot, dry summer. “We’ve gone on record amounts of wildland fires this year.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.