Fire burns RV, shed in east Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — Firefighters prevented a fire in Gales Addition from spreading to a home that was about 5 feet from a fully engulfed outbuilding Sunday.

When firefighters from Clallam County Fire District No. 2 arrived at the fire on the 2300 block of East Fifth Avenue east of Port Angeles at about 2 p.m. Sunday, they saw flames and smoke shooting out of a recreational vehicle and a nearby outbuilding, Assistant Chief Dan Huff said.

“When I first arrived the RV was fully involved,” Huff said. “When I did my 360 on the shed, it blew a window out on the west side and flames came out the window after that — flames shooting out the windows.”

Assistant Chief Mike DeRousie said that a woman was in the process of moving her belongings out of the RV and into storage and was not home when the fire started.

He said he would contact the American Red Cross to help the woman.

No one was hurt in the blaze.

VIDEO from the fire. Firefighters tell me the fire is suspicious, though they are unsure of the cause. pic.twitter.com/0fFoYLGmoz

— Jesse Major (@jessemajor) August 6, 2018

DeRousie said the fire likely started in the living area of the 27-foot RV, though it isn’t clear how it started.

He said he is considering the fire suspicious because nobody was home and because the RV is not hooked up to electricity or propane. A propane tank was on the deck but was not hooked up to the RV.

“It’s going to be very hard to determine the cause, especially when there’s no electricity and no propane,” he said.

Firefighters sound concerned about it spreading to nearby home. pic.twitter.com/yGLgjHhSXx

— Jesse Major (@jessemajor) August 5, 2018

When firefighters arrived to the fire they immediately began a defensive attack on the fire, protecting the nearby home, DeRousie said.

“That was our first concern,” he said. “Any fire approaching that side was immediately knocked down.”

He also said the propane tank on the deck was venting.

Several neighbors said that before firefighters arrived they heard what sounded like fireworks and explosions. They said the sound was heard from two blocks away.

DeRousie said what people likely heard was paint cans exploding.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from downtown Port Angeles as well.

“We did hear a few pops after I arrived, but I couldn’t tell you what they were,” Huff said.

Fire appears mostly under control now. No details of how it started yet. pic.twitter.com/QTNiYsQmXY

— Jesse Major (@jessemajor) August 5, 2018

Sixteen firefighters on three engines and one water tender took about half an hour to get the fire contained. Huff said one of the top challenges was actually getting water on the fire.

The nearest hydrant was about two blocks away, meaning firefighters had to use about two blocks worth of hose.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Sunday afternoon.

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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.