Suspicious flames
The fourth fire this year in the same field in Soap Lake occurred Monday night. Crews from Grant County Fire District 7 responded and had the scene clear within an hour and a half.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Grant County Fire District 7 Interim Fire Chief Viktor Bragar called a fire Monday night suspicious. The fire occurred in a Soap Lake field between Sixth Avenue Southeast and State Route 28. Bragar, pictured, became interim fire chief at the department when Kirk Sheppard retired from the department recently.
SOAP LAKE — Monday evening saw the fourth suspicious fire in the same field in Soap Lake this year.
“There was nothing that suggested it (was naturally caused),” Grant County Fire District 7 Interim Fire Chief Viktor Bragar said.
Bragar said the fire was called in at about 8 p.m. Oct. 10.
Because all GCFD7 active firefighters were at the station for training at the time, there was no need to call outside resources for assistance, Bragar said. GCFD7 was able to clear and leave the scene by 9:30 p.m.
Bragar said, just as now-retired chief Kirk Sheppard had previously said of the other three fires in that field this summer, that the fire is suspicious and there is no obvious ignition source.
The field is located between Sixth Avenue Southeast and state Route 28.
The first suspicious fire in that area occurred on Aug. 12 at about 10 p.m. The point of origin was just off Lakemore Drive between the road and Highway 28.
The second fire broke out at about 4 a.m. on Aug. 15 originating near Canna Street South.
Sheppard had said the points of origin for the first two fires was less than 100 feet apart.
The third fire broke out at 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 18 from the on-ramp that connects SR-17 to SR-28.
The most recent fire also started from the roadway of Canna Street, similar to the second fire, and had no obvious sources of ignition, Bragar said. The area burned was about 120 feet by 120 feet.
Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox confirmed there were no persons of interest in this fire or the other three in the area. He also said no witnesses have come forward about these incidents to his knowledge.
Anyone with information regarding the fires may contact the Soap Lake Police Department at 509-246-1122.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
