KINGSTON – A discarded couch was the only casualty of a fire in the woods in Kingston Saturday afternoon, thanks to an alert bystander who slowed the flames with a portable fire extinguisher and called 911. Crews found no accidental ignition sources at the scene, and believe it was deliberately set.

Witnesses reported that teens had been observed in the area of the fire, and firefighters are concerned that a future incident could be far more serious under different conditions.

North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews were called to the fire deep in the woods along Central Avenue around 4:30 p.m. The first unit on scene spotted the fire, hundreds of yards away from any road access. The distance and terrain would have made it nearly impossible to deploy hoselines necessary to thwart a growing blaze but, due to recent winter weather, the fire did not spread. The situation would have been far more grave under drier conditions, with the potential to threaten adjacent homes and apartments.

Firefighters were able to completely extinguish any remaining hot spots using tools and equipment carried in to the site. Bystanders told firefighters that a group of teens frequents the area of the fire which has become a makeshift spot for parties.

Officials are hoping that neighbors will keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and encourage anyone with information about the fire to contact the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 337-5777.