Port Angeles – It took 5 water tenders in a kind of fire engine water brigade to put out a huge house fire in Eden Valley Tuesday.
It was about 5:30pm when the call came in. Because of the home’s relatively remote location, the call triggered a response from Fire Districts 2 and 3, as well as the Port Angeles Fire Department. Based on the initial reports and the responder’s familiarity with the area, additional water tenders were requested from Clallam County Fire Districts 3 and 4.
Initial reports were that a fire had possibly started on the deck and was spreading to the house. Firefighters arrived to find the fire was well involved and had extended into the house. Residents reported that all occupants were out of the structure.
Clallam 2 Fire Chief Jake Patterson says the first several fire engines used their onboard tank water to try and knock down the fire, but suppression efforts were difficult due to the size of the fire and limited water supply. The closest fire hydrant was 6.5 miles away.
Eventually a water supply was established using a water tender shuttle operation to bring water to the scene.
Eventually, the home and several small outbuildings were destroyed by the fire. Chief Patterson thanks residents of the area who assisted the fire district by using an excavator to gain access to burning materials.
In total, about 30 firefighters responded to the scene.
