Amid dry conditions, State Patrol asks that you report those who toss lit items out windows

GIG HARBOR, Wash. -- There were four brush fires in one day, from Pierce County to Kitsap County on Tuesday.

In Port Orchard, three brush fires sparked at about the same time, spreading a quarter-mile long, shutting down traffic for two hours along SR 16.

“I wish people were more careful,” one driver said.

WSP says a tow truck hauling a car sparked the brush fires after a tire blew on the vehicle it was towing.

“The tire went down, the rim was dragging on the asphalt at freeway speeds so it sparked,” trooper Russel Winger said.

First responders jumped on the brush fires quickly but not before the flames jumped to both the median and the shoulder of SR 16 near Bethel.

As soon as the Port Orchard brush fires were put out, another one popped up in Gig Harbor on the same highway near Wollochet Drive.

Troopers say a cigarette most likely caused the median to go up in flames.

WSP is asking people to call 911 with license plate numbers if they witness anyone throwing lit items out the window.

“We want to know about it, we want to track them down,” Winger said.

First responders say brush fires put a huge strain on their resources and most frustrating thing is that most are preventable.

“We are short-handed anyway. We would rather be out making the roadways safe instead of chasing down things that could have been prevented,” Winger said.

WSP also says to be mindful when you have to park on the shoulder of a highway. They say catalytic converters on cars are very hot and could easily spark a brush fire if you park close to the grass.