People across Centralia on Friday evening reported a thick, black cloud of smoke just before 6 p.m. due to a fire from an RV parked under the Sixth Street Viaduct in Centralia’s Logan District.
A dog was killed in the blaze and the RV was destroyed. The blaze “scorched” the underside of the viaduct, according to the Centralia Police Department.
No people were harmed from the fire, but at least one person who occupied the RV was displaced. The Salvation Army of Lewis County was on the scene to provide information about the night-by-night shelter on North Gold Street in Centralia.
The Riverside Fire Authority responded to a call from a resident at 5:45 p.m. on Friday and closed out the fire investigation at 7 p.m. The cause of the fire was ruled as “undetermined,” said Riverside Fire Chief Kevin Anderson, which is common in cases where investigators can’t find a “definitive” source of the fire.
Anderson did not know if the RV had other occupants, but said the resident who was present at the time mentioned having relatives he could stay with.
Centralia Public Works came on Saturday to investigate the state of the bridge after it was exposed to such significant heat, though Public Works Director Kim Ashmore was not reached for comment before The Chronicle’s deadline on Monday.
The bridge has remained open to traffic.
Because the bridge quickly filled with people stopping to examine the fire, Anderson noted that the public should be aware of the dangers of RV, vehicle and other structure fires, which include smoke and explosions from gas tanks, propane and tires.
“It’s always a good idea to give as much clearance as possible when there is a fire,” Anderson said. “There are several hazards that are associated that a lot of people wouldn’t necessarily think about.”
The fire was contained to the RV and some nearby vegetation, Anderson said.
