NW Redmond burn pile sparks blaze, threatens homes

A burn pile thought to have been put out ignited bark dust and vegetation in northwest Redmond Saturday evening, sparking a smoky fire that sent up 30-foot flames, threatening homes and burning several bushes, trees and a fence, fire officials said.

Redmond Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched shortly before 6 p.m. to a reported brushfire threatening homes, said Battalion Chief Jeff Puller.

Crews arrived to find three residential properties with several landscaping bushes, a fence and several pine trees burning, Puller said. They were able to quickly knock down the fire before it spread to any homes, though it took about 90 minutes to fully extinguish the flames, Puller said.

The fire burned about one-tenth of an acre, but caused no injuries or damage to structures, the official said. The value of the lost fencing and landscaping was still being determined.

A total of 11 career and two volunteer personnel were called out, while Redmond police provided mutual aid.

Puller said the fire was apparently caused when a previous burn pile, thought to have been extinguished, traveled through bark dust and ignited vegetation.

Redmond Fire and Rescue reminded the community when burning yard debris to have enough dirt between your burn piles and combustibles. A minimum of 25 feet is required when the pile size is three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, Puller said.