PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Fire District No. 2 firefighters were kept on the move during the “Friday the 13th storm,” said Chief Sam Phillips.
Firefighters with the district — which covers 85 square miles of unincorporated area from Lake Sutherland on the west to Deer Park on the east to Olympic National Park on the south and shares resources with the Port Angeles Fire Department — generally answer about three calls daily.
But Friday, they had six emergency calls in less than seven hours, several of which were prompted by the unexpected electrical storm, which sent several waves of storm cells through the North Olympic Peninsula.
Phillips described in a statement the following series of events during and after the rollicking weather:
At 5:19 a.m., fire alarms at Monroe Elementary School, 102 Monroe Road, were triggered by a power outage.
Soon after, at 5:38 a.m., the department was called to assist the Port Angeles Fire Department with a residential house fire at 704 South Elizabeth Place off Golf Course Road.
The fire, which is suspected to have been caused by a lightning strike and which remained under investigation this weekend, caused substantial damage to the house.
It was the home of the mother of Lt. Al Oman, who was assisting in fighting the fire.
She escaped unharmed.
Cedar tree hit
At 5:51 a.m., a lightning strike ignited a cedar tree at 5006 S. Doss Road on the east side of Port Angeles.
Three firefighters, an engine and a command officer — assisted by the property owners — extinguished the blaze.
A fourth call at 12:02 p.m. was for an emergency medical call on Deer Park Road where a person had fallen several times.
At 12:33 p.m., two firefighters and a water supply tender assisted the Sequim Fire District with a structure fire at 1793 Lost Mountain Road.
At 1:02 p.m., firefighters responded to a car wreck at U.S. Highway 101 and Monroe Road.
They arrived to find a white GMC Acadia and a gray Volkswagen van blocking traffic in westbound lanes.
There were no injuries, and firefighters took over traffic control until they were relieved by law enforcement.
“Firefighters encourage citizens to be prepared for unexpected weather, drive with due regard for others on the roadway and maintain working smoke alarms in your homes at all times,” Phillips said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
