Brush fire chars three acres in Chico

Firefighters from Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Bremerton Fire Department and Navy Region Northwest Fire and Emergency Services responded to a three-acre brush fire that blazed through Erlands Point Park in Bremerton on Monday.

Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation by Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office, CKFR Inspector Roger Nordlander said the wildfire appears to have started near the rear of the park and traveled up to the roadway. The fire was called in just before 2 p.m. and was extinguished shortly after 4 p.m.

With flames a mere 50-feet from endangering nearby homes, nearly 30 firefighters from seven different stations helped extinguish the wildfire with both water and flame retardant foam.

Nordlander said firefighters had to wet everything down, including root systems and structures to prevent a possible flare-up in the future.

“The heat coming from the ground is where the concern is,” Nordlander said. “We want to make sure the fire is out and doesn’t (have the potential) to rekindle.”

Although the wind didn’t play a huge factor in the spread of the flames, the lack of rain has left trees, grass and shrubs dry and in ideal condition for brush fires.

Nordlander said wildfires will often follow the wind and the line of the terrain, leaving areas that will ignite faster than others, creating unpredictability.

“Wildfires can be very time consuming and take a lot of people,” Nordlander added. “We’re worried about getting down to the roots ... the old adage is go to the edge and put one foot in the green, one foot in the black ... soak both and get the fire out.”

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