Fire damages building at Elmo Fishing Access
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ELMO — Fireworks caused a fire that gutted a building at Elmo Fishing Access on June 26. Dispatchers relayed the fire call to the Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department at about 6:06 p.m.
Chief Cliff Volunteer Fireman Jason Heffner was the first responder and said firefighters had to move boulders blocking the road into the building. Heffner radioed dispatch to get in touch with the Rollins Volunteer Fire Department for mutual aid, and they responded with manpower, a tender and an engine.
Apparently three kids had been lighting off fireworks in the building. Since the only part of the park in use was the boat ramp and fishing access, the area near the building was covered with tall, uncut grass and junipers, Heffner said.
Chief Cliff firefighter Andy Learn said in addition to the tall grass there was 20 years worth of duff underneath the green stuff. Sparks from the roof were igniting the grass, and flaming pinecones and packrat detritus inside the building made visibility difficult.
Firefighters estimated 60 percent of the building was destroyed.
Heffner reported the kids involved returned to the scene and spoke with Tribal Law Enforcement as well as Fish, Wildlife and Parks personnel. Heffner said he was impressed with the kids and told them so.
The Chief Cliff volunteers were kept busy with another fire, an abandoned campfire, on June 26. On June 27, they responded to a smoldering slash pile on Dayton Creek.
