Grass fire extinguished in I-205 median

Firefighters on Friday morning knocked out a grass fire in the median of Interstate 205 near state Highway 500.

The fire was reported just before 11 a.m. and was under control within about 15 minutes.

“It’s really dry grass,” but firefighters can take care of grass fires fast if they aren’t wind-driven, said Capt. Dave James, a Vancouver Fire Department spokesman.

The Vancouver Fire Department sent two engines, a water tender and a brush rig to fight the blaze, James said. Firefighters remained on scene for an extra half-hour to make sure the fire didn’t start again.

Also around 11:30 a.m. firefighters with Clark County Fire & Rescue responded to reports of a grass fire on Interstate 5 near exit 14, the Ridgefield exit.

Crews quickly suppressed the quarter-acre fire burning in the freeway median, said Clark County Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Dawdy.

The left lane of the northbound lanes was blocked for about half an hour and heavy smoke was reported over the roadway.

“People need to be extra cautious. Don’t throw burning materials from cars. Be extra careful with campfires if you’re going to camp this weekend. And no backyard burning until the ban is over,” Dawdy said. “It’s incredibly dry.”