Spontaneous combustion blamed for southwest Seattle brush fire

SEATTLE -- A pile of rags soaked with wood stain left in direct sunlight is being blamed for a 2-acre brush fire south of West Seattle.

The fire erupted down a steep embankment early Monday afternoon in the 10900 block of 39th Avenue Southwest.

Several homeowners called 911 saying they saw smoke billowing into the sky.

At least a dozen homes sitting on top of the steep cliff were in the direct path of the fire. Down below, fire fighters said flames threatened three more homes but it stopped short of burning any structures.

Before firefighters got on scene neighbors grabbed their own garden hoses to try to put out the flames before it could grow any bigger.

Seattle Fire Department crews called in a brush truck and attacked the flames from both above and below.

Firefighters extinguished the fire shortly before 4 p.m. The brush fire was another reminder of how the hot and dry conditions can turn any fire into a potential disaster.

“This is the type of area that you see out in Eastern Washington and we have some of these spots in Seattle,” said SFD spokesman Kyle Moore. “That’s why we bring in additional engine companies to try to protect those homes the best we could.”

Fire crews will remain on scene to make sure the fire doesn’t reignite.

There were no reports of injuries.