SUMAS, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to a report of an outside fire about 5:15am this morning, August 14th, in the general area south of Sumas near Clearbrook Road. The fire was quickly located at a dairy in the 9400 block of Hill Road.
An initial report from the scene by Whatcom County Fire District 14 (WCFD14) personnel was of a 200-square-foot bunker on fire.
WCFD14 Fire Chief Jerry DeBruin said 2 covered bunkers were involved, 1 contained tons of cottonseed and the other grass silage covered by a tarp and hay bales. An open area between the bunkers containing round hay bales was also involved.
DeBruin estimated the bunkers were approximately 60-feet by 100-feet with cement walls and covered by a tall metal pole building structure with with wood rafters.
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There were no injuries, DeBruin said. The fire came within 30 feet of an adjacent barn but the barn was not damaged.
“We had the whole department out on this one,” DeBruin told Whatcom News. That included 5 tender trucks bringing water to the scene.
Mop up activities will take a long time according to DeBruin. An excavator was working to move burned material and structure to enable putting out hotspots.
The Whatcom County Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
This story was updated at 8am with details provided by WCFD14.
Scene of a barn fire in Sumas (August 14, 2021). Photo courtesy of Sumas Police 
Scene of a barn fire in Sumas (August 14, 2021). Photo courtesy of Sumas Police 
Scene of a barn fire in Sumas (August 14, 2021). Photo courtesy of Sumas Police 
Scene of a barn fire in Sumas (August 14, 2021). Photo courtesy of Sumas Police