Renton firefighters extinguish brush blaze on I-405

The fire resulted in temporary closures to the on-ramp.

By Benjamin Leung • August 25, 2023 1:45 pm
WSDOT highway camera photograph of crews battling the brush fire. (Courtesy of the Renton Fire’s social media)
WSDOT highway camera photograph of crews battling the brush fire. (Courtesy of the Renton Fire’s social media)

Renton Regional Fire Authority crews battled a brush fire on Aug. 22 on northbound I-405 at the on-ramp from Sunset Boulevard North in Renton.

The fire resulted in temporary closures to the on-ramp as units fought the flames.

According to the Renton Regional Fire Authority, crews were dispatched at approximately 7:26 p.m. to I-405 North for reports of a brush fire.

Arriving at the scene, crews saw a column of smoke and discovered a 30-foot-by-30-foot fast moving brush and grass fire advancing into the tree line. Crews started fighting the flames using hoses, with multiple units on the scene attacking the flames from various angles, according to the department.

After about 45 minutes, crews contained the fire and remained on scene to prevent any flare-ups.

“The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but with such dry brush and vegetation, it does not take much to ignite a fire,” said Sara Morris, public information officer for the Renton Regional Fire Authority, in an email.

Morris included various reminders for community members, asking people to properly dispose of smoking materials and avoid throwing cigarettes into vegetation, avoid mowing in windy and excessively hot and dry conditions, reduce the risk of sparks, and exercise care in driving through dry grass or brush.