By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a reported car fire on Lower Elwha Road late Wednesday morning after several callers reported seeing smoke in the area.
Crews from the Dry Creek Fire Station were the first to arrive, where they found a Jeep SUV that was on fire on a property with a large amount of combustible material piled around. The fire had the potential to spread to nearby trees and other vehicles and items on the property.
The fire was knocked down by the E22 crew and additional crews helped mop up the fire to ensure it was out. But while they were on the scene, they saw that a small patch of grass near a stump was smoldering, which turned out to be a clue as to what caused the fires.
The property owner told firefighters he was having problems with a hornets’ nest underneath a seat in the Jeep, so he tried to “smoke” them out of it by starting a small fire, which ended up spreading through the whole interior of the car. He also said he attempted to burn out another wasp nest under the stump.
Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue would like to remind everyone never to attempt to burn out any hornets’ nest, as it has the potential to spread, especially during such high fire danger.
In other words, the current total burn ban applies to burning bees.
(Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue photo)