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Officials investigate series of Vancouver brush fires

Three blazes sparked in two days in the same field

By Patty Hastings, Columbian Social Services, Demographics, Faith
Published: May 14, 2014, 5:00pm

Investigators are looking into a series of Vancouver brush fires that have sparked in the same field in the past two days.

The three fires all started in a field near the recently closed Albertsons, at the intersection of Northeast 137th and Padden Parkway.

The first fire was reported at 5:33 p.m. Tuesday, the second at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday and the third at 5:49 p.m. Wednesday.

Each fire measured about 20 feet by 30 feet, Vancouver Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Steele said.

Part of the field dips about 30 to 40 feet lower than the land around it, Steele said. All three fires started in that land depression.

Although firefighters were able to quickly extinguish all three fires, the flames could have spread farther in drier conditions.

“In May, everything is still green,” Steele said.

Bystanders tried to beat down Wednesday evening’s fire with branches.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating what or who started the fires.

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Columbian Social Services, Demographics, Faith