ELK, Wash. — Fire investigators looking into last summer’s Oregon Road fire near Elk, Washington determined that spontaneous combustion sparked the flames that led to the destruction of thousands of acres.
Department of Natural Resources investigation report of the fire that burned 10,817 acres and more than 100 homes.
4 News Now had the opportunity to speak with Wendy and Stuart Anderson, both residents of Elk, to hear their story.
According to the Anderson’s, they saw the flames from their backyard mere moments after the fire started.
“The smoke was really bad. You can see some flames. And so it was you know real evident what was happening there.” said Stuart Anderson.
The fire started in the property next door and quickly raced up along their fence.
“Everybody was just stomping out the fire with shovels, and then as the wind continued to bring it this way, it jumped our fence” said Wendy Anderson.
According to the Anderson’s, a shift in the winds and the fire started coming towards them. They knew they needed to get out.