Bark dust fire closes road in Longview

LONGVIEW — A fire that started at Swanson Bark on Sunday afternoon in Longview jumped Tennant Way, according to the Cowlitz County Department of Emergency.

Longview Fire Chief Phil Jurmu said the fire was reported by someone driving by around 5 p.m. Sunday.

Jurmu said the spontaneous bark dust fire was a result of heat generated by the decay process combined with recent hot, dry weather.

Winds quickly spread the fire sending embers south across Tennant Way where a 300- to 400-foot long area burned. That fire was extinguished with water, Jurmu said.

However, Jurmu said firefighters cannot use water on the bark dust pile and instead are having to pull the piles apart to extinguish the flames. According to Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Lt. Curt Stich, nearly every available firefighter and piece of equipment was brought in to help put out the blaze.