COYLE — Volunteer firefighters were able to save a Coyle resident’s home before it was set ablaze by a fire that had already claimed a trailer and damaged his guest house.
Volunteer firefighters from the Quilcene Fire Rescue station 22 in Coyle were the first to arrive at the fire at Alder Street on the southern end of the Toandos Peninsula after receiving the dispatch call shortly before 9 p.m. Monday night, Quilcene Fire Chief Frank Montone said.
No one was injured, Montone said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Firefighters work to put out a fire on Alder Street in Coyle on Monday night. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
Upon arriving, firefighters found a trailer on fire, which had caused the guest house on an adjacent property to catch on fire as well, threatening the main residence on that property, Montone said.
The team prioritized protecting the residence and preventing the fire from spreading while awaiting assistance from Quilcene Fire Rescue station 21 and other fire departments, Montone said.
The residence suffered only a cracked window from the heat of the fire, Montone said.
The trailer is “gone” and completely destroyed, while the guest house was about 55 percent damaged, Montone said.
“The volunteers at Station 22 just did an awesome job,” Montone said. “They were giving us information over the radio as we were responding, because you understand it’s a long trek to get out there.
“They just kept giving us fantastic information and just did a really good job.”
Firefighters work to put out a fire on Alder Street in Coyle on Monday night. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
In addition to the team from Quilcene Fire Rescue Station 21, teams from East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, Port Ludlow Fire Rescue, Discovery Bay Fire Rescue, Naval Magazine Indian Island Station 91 and Clallam Fire District 3 reported to the fire.
Brinnon Fire Department took over any on-going calls for South County and fire engine 77 and aid vehicle 74 from Kitsap helped back-fill the East Jefferson County stations, Montone said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies also responded and helped close the road and redirect traffic, Montone said.
Montone estimated approximately 35 to 40 first responders were on the scene.
“We had a full response,” Montone said.
The guest house was approximately five to 10 feet from the main home, Montone said.
The fire had spread into the trees surrounding the properties, climbing 60 to 70 feet into the air and could have been much worse, Montone said.
“The crews at 22 did an awesome job, that’s all I got to say,” Montone said. “They kept it in check, they kept it away from and saved the neighbor’s home.
“He came home a little later, only to notice when he tried to turn down his road it was a parade of fire trucks.
The fire was out by Tuesday morning and Montone left the scene at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
______
Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
