QUILCENE — A “defensive mode” assumed by firefighters saved several buildings on a property north of Quilcene after a barn was engulfed in flames Tuesday afternoon, the Quilcene fire chief said.
“We arrived on the scene and determined that the barn was lost, so we went into defensive mode and concentrated our efforts on saving the nearby buildings,” said Larry Karp.
“We concentrated all our efforts on putting out the fire on the side of the barn that was closest to the other buildings.”
Firefighters received word of a fire on Brush Plant Road at about 4 p.m. and contained the fire within about 20 minutes, Karp said.
Firefighters were on the scene for several hours hosing down the ruins of the barn, which contained tractors and other farm equipment.
No animals were in the barn, and no one was injured, Karp said.
The name of the owner was not available.
Karp estimated that the barn was built in the 1930s.
No damage estimate was available.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Karp said investigators are looking into the possibility it started from a propane torch and was accidental.
An adjacent building within 5 feet of the barn was among those saved because of firefighters’ efforts, Karp said.
Brinnon, Port Ludlow and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue firefighters also worked to put out the blaze.
About half of the Quilcene Fire Department’s 32 volunteers were on the scene.
“That was a really good turnout for 4 in the afternoon,” Karp said.
“Some of the guys saw the smoke and were suiting up even before the alarm sounded.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
