THE MASSIVE FIRE IN YAKIMA, WASHINGTON, SATURDAY that consumed thousands of stacked logs was started by spontaneous combustion. The fire began in a 25-ft.-high pile of chips and sawdust and was quickly spread into the log stacks by strong winds that had been blowing all day. (see Firegeezer report HERE.) The fire burned through a major electric supply line, cutting off power to the entire city including the ongoing Washington State Fair, for several hours.
The Yakima fire investigators are now saying that the probable cause was spontaneous combustion in the chip pile. “At this point, that’s what we believe,” Deputy Fire Marshal Ron Melcher told the Yakima Herald-Republic Tuesday. The huge blaze that sent smoke billowing over central Yakima “was an extension from a bark sawdust pile fire.”
The Herald-Republic is also reporting HERE:
In the wake of Saturday’s fire, the third in the past 21/2 months at the former mill, city officials on Monday ordered the wood chipping operation at the site shut down.
Officials said the closure may be permanent unless Dunollie Enterprises, which has been running the wood chipping outfit, can satisfy fire safety requirements.
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