MLFD, GCFD5 respond to fire behind Safeway in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Crews from the Moses Lake Fire Department and Grant County Fire District 5 responded to a major fire in a 10-acre lot south of Wheeler Road between Safeway and Samaritan Hospital on Wednesday afternoon at around 1 p.m.

“We concentrated on this area,” said Moses Lake Fire Department Deputy Chief Pete Kunjara as he stood near a fire truck parked alongside the field and motioning toward the rear of the Safeway. “Trying to protect the Safeway and the hospital.”

Fire crews had much of the fire extinguished by 2 p.m., though firefighters were setting backfires in the midst of the field to burn off much of the brush. It is the fourth time in as many days that fire crews have responded to fires in the field.

“We’re tired of coming back here,” one firefighter said.

Details about the fire, such as how it started, were not available prior to press time.

According to information available on the Grant County Assessor’s website, the 10-acre parcel is currently owned by Kirkland-based real estate holding company Zaser & Longston, which owns a number of properties around the city.

Kunjara, who directed firefighters at the scene, said MLFD crews were busy on Wednesday, with three ambulance calls during the fire as well. However, he noted that because of the unusually wet July, the fire itself was less dangerous than it might have been during a drier and hotter year.

“We had our hands full with this,” he said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com