SEQUIM — Firefighters on Saturday were mopping up a smoldering fire that burned a barn northeast of Sequim on Friday.
The cause of the blaze that destroyed a barn partially filled with hay at 331 Graymarsh Lane remained under investigation.
No injuries were reported from the barn blaze at Graymarsh Farm, a 1,000-acre berry and lavender farm.
“Fire District 3 still has units on scene as well as a large excavator to assist in extinguishment and investigation,” Tony Hudson, Clallam County Fire District No. 3 assistant chief, said Saturday morning.
The fire was discovered a little after 4 p.m. by an employee who then called 9-1-1, Jamison Brandt, Graymarsh Farm facility manager, said Friday.
“Nobody knows how it started,” he said. “Nobody was present here at all” when it ignited.
Firefighters, who were dispatched at about 4:15 p.m., found the old barn engulfed in flames when they arrived, Hudson said.
Westerly winds up to about 20 mph had “accelerated the fire growth,” he said.
Firefighters began attacking the flames and sprayed down adjacent buildings with foam to prevent the fire from spreading.
“Units assumed a defensive position to fight the fire and protect exposures,” Hudson said.
They were able to protect a carport to the north of the barn and a residence to the east, he said.
“The only loss was the barn itself,” he said.
About 16 fire vehicles and about 37 firefighters responded to the fire from various local agencies such as Fire District No. 3, Clallam County Fire District No. 2, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, Jefferson County Fire District No. 2 and Jefferson County Fire District No. 5.
Off-duty District No. 3 personnel, an Olympic Ambulance crew and a Port Angeles Fire Department medic unit assisted by taking over medical calls while other personnel were busy fighting the fire, Hudson said.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
