Sudden warm weather kept Clark County Fire District 3 busy Tuesday and Wednesday.
The district responded to four wildfires in two days, according to a Wednesday news release. All were caused by high winds and dry conditions, the news release said.
At 6:39 p.m. Tuesday, crews were called out to 20316 N.E. 242nd Ave. for a 1-acre blaze burning in brush, caused by a reignited controlled burn and fanned by gusting east winds, according to the news release. Crews extinguished the fire within 1 1/2 hours, the news release said.
Then, at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, crews helped Fire District 13 fight a roughly 5-acre blaze at 28609 N.E. East Fork Drive, according to the news release. The blaze was extinguished within 4 1/2 hours. Gusting east winds fanned the flames, but the cause is under investigation, the news release said.
An old burn pile caught fire and spread to other piles and some heavy timber in the same area, Clark County Fire District 13 Chief Shaun Ford said.
“We don’t know the cause. The wind may have kicked up an old pile,” Ford said.
Firefighters stayed on scene until about 5:45 a.m., according to dispatch logs. The time was spent ensuring that brush was entirely extinguished, Ford said.
“Fortunately, we were able to stop the spread,” he said.
The state Department of Natural Resources remained at the fire site as of 9:30 a.m., according to the chief.
Around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Fire District 3 responded to 17403 N.E. Horne Road and found a 2-acre brush fire fanned by east gusting winds, according to the news release. The fire was completely contained within 2 1/2 hours, and a controlled burn was determined to be the cause.
Later Wednesday, the district sent one brush unit as part of a Clark County Strike Team to assist with a wildland fire near Cathlamet.
The district said landowners should not burn in windy conditions, which are visible when trees are swaying, flags are extended or waves appear on open water.
