FERNDALE, Wash. — Firefighters from Bellingham Fire Department, Whatcom County Fire Districts 7 and 8 and North Whatcom Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a 4-acre brush fire on the west side of Ferndale Road between Slater Road and Marine Drive about 7:25pm Tuesday, April 7th.
Initial unconfirmed radio reports from first responders at the scene said they arrived to find a 20-acre grass fire. Law enforcement were called in to close off Ferndale Road between Slater Road and Marine Drive while the firefighting effort was underway.
Bellingham Fire Department Captain Dave Pethick said in a phone interview Wednesday, April 8th, muddy conditions made getting firefighting apparatus to some parts of the fire difficult. There were several separate spot fires around the field as is common with brush fires according to Pethick.
Responding firefighting apparatus on the scene included 4 engines, 3 tenders and a brush truck.
Crews battled the fire for an hour and a half, Pethick said. No structures or equipment were threatened or damaged by the fire but a residence and barn across the road from the fire was cause for concern.
Pethick said the cause of the fire had not been determined yet.
A My Ferndale News reader said they were driving along Ferndale Road when they came upon the brush fire and called 911. The following is a video reportedly taken just prior to fire crews being dispatched to the scene.