Rare Winter Forest Fire Contained

Fri., Jan. 6, 1995

From Staff And Wire Reports

An unusual winter forest fire that had threatened this tiny King County town was completely ringed by fire lines Thursday night, with control expected by today, state officials said.

The Massey Gate fire, first reported Monday afternoon and whipped by several days of gusty winds, was contained at 6 p.m. Thursday, said Shelley Spencer, a state Department of Natural Resources dispatcher in nearby Enumclaw.

The fire burned across 290 acres and cost DNR at least $200,000 to fight, DNR spokesman Lloyd Handlos said.

While the fire nipped at the edges of this town on Tuesday night, no homes or other structures were damaged and no serious injuries were reported.

Some 360 workers were assigned to fight the blaze at its peak but the base camp was disbanded late Thursday, Handlos said. Firefighters built nearly five miles of containment lines around the fire’s perimeter.

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