KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Kennewick Fire Department fought two fires with about an hour between each other on the evening of Sun., May 13.
At around 6:22 p.m., crews were called to a garage in the 2500 block of West Clearwater Avenue for reports of heavy black smoke in the sky and explosions inside the building. KFD crews also found the fire damaging an adjacent home on the same property.
A powerline had also fallen into the backyard, to which Benton PUD responded by shutting down the line.
No injuries resulted from the fire and the cause is undetermined, however KFD says a propane weed burner used earlier in the day may have contributed.
Later, at 7:32 p.m., crews got another call that reported that multiple vehicles were on fire in front of a home. Extra crews from other departments were called in as a result.
KFD says a “deck gun,” or a fixed water turret on top of a fire engine, was used to fight the fire which had engulfed four vehicles. The fire ended up damaging two homes and displaced five people in total.
The fire’s cause is still under investigation. The Red Cross is helping the displaced residents.
KFD was helped by Benton County Fire District 1, Richland Fire, Pasco Fire and Kennewick Police.
KFD also urges the community to stay at least 50 feet away from downed lines, assume downed lines are energized, to move away while keeping feet together and on the ground and to call 911 if you see a downed line.
