Fire In South King County Was Started Accidentally

A rare winter fire that burned 290 acres in south King County earlier this month started accidentally, state fire investigators said Thursday.

The Massey Gate fire started Jan. 2 when winds that gusted to 70 mph rekindled burned slash piles on Plum Creek Timber Co. property, Department of Natural Resources investigators said.

Warren Warfield, resource protection assistant manager for DNR’s south Puget Sound region, said the fire was one of those things that happens “when weather changes rapidly and unpredictably.” No evidence of negligence by Plum Creek was found, he said.

The fire, near the small town of Cumberland, was controlled Jan. 6, but is still being patrolled for possible reignition, Warfield said.