SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Firefighters in Spokane Valley are warning residents about the dangers of weed burners after responding to multiple fires in recent weeks that brought flames dangerously close to homes, according to the Spokane Valley Fire Department.
In one incident, flames reached 10 to 12 feet high and came within feet of a house and attached garage, fire officials said. Another backyard burn spread quickly to a fence line and nearby trees, growing to nearly 20 feet wide before firefighters brought it under control. A separate case escalated when an exterior fire spread into a structure, according to the department.
No injuries occurred in any of the incidents, and crews prevented structural losses, fire officials said.
“Weed burners might seem like a quick fix, but they can spark a fast-moving fire in seconds, especially near dry grass, shrubbery or bushes, fences, or nearby structures,” said SVFD Assistant Fire Marshal Abraham Nisbet. “What starts small can quickly get out of control and threaten lives and property.”
Open burning of rubbish and yard waste is strictly prohibited in all Spokane Valley Fire Department response areas, including Spokane Valley, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Greenacres, and Liberty Lake, according to the department.
Officials recommend safer alternatives including pulling weeds by hand, using a string trimmer or mower, or applying residential-approved herbicides.
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