Two brush fires burn on Maury in a week
By NATALIE JOHNSON
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Reporter
August 23, 2011 · Updated 2:05 PM
A fire in a field on Maury Island last Wednesday was the second brush fire on Maury in a week, said George Brown, assistant fire chief at Vashon Island Fire and Rescue (VIFR).
The fire ignited when a lawnmower a Maury resident was using to mow a field caught fire. The blaze burned an area of about 100 by 100 feet in the field before VIFR crews were able to put it out. No structures were damaged.
On Monday, Aug. 15, a brush fire on Maury ignited a house fire that cause damage to a home on Summerhurst Road.
That brush fire, Brown said, appeared to have been caused by illegal burning the day before. There is currently a burn ban in effect for all of King county.
VIFR's response time for Monday's house fire was slightly longer than usual because initial information about the fire's location was inaccurate.
Brown said it is unusual for VIFR to see two large fires in a week, and warned that any type of burning is dangerous right now due to the warm and dry weather conditions.
"A spark or ember that gets left could easliery ignite a brush fire," he said.
Contact Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Reporter Natalie Johnson at njohnson@vashonbeachcomber.com or 206-463-9195.
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