Fire at Cedar Glen Mobile Home Park quickly extinguished

POULSBO — Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire Feb. 21 at Cedar Glen Mobile Home Park on Highway 305.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., North Kitsap Fire & Rescue and Poulsbo Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call made by Gary Watson, head maintenance facilitator of the park. Watson was working on demolishing a 1970s double-wide mobile home when the fire started.

“I was cutting the frame when a spark hit some of the old insulation,” he said. “It spread real quick and the garden hose just wasn’t putting it out.”

Poulsbo Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Russell said firefighters had the fire located and extinguished in roughly 10 minutes.

“It appears that a spark from an acetylene torch hitting some combustible material was the likely cause of the fire,” Russell said.

Though the fire appeared to be completely extinguished, Russell added, “We’ll take our time with this one and probably be here for the next hour or so to make sure no fire is left behind.”

Watson, who stood nearby waiting to continue demolition work on his tractor, said he was just hoping to have an easy afternoon.

“I wasn’t scared, I was just pissed,” he said.

But Watson, with smoke still on his face, assured firefighters that his wife, an RN, would have a good look at him when he got home.

As for neighbors at the Cedar Glen Mobile Home Park, he said they got a show.

The park anticipates demolition work to be complete and have a new mobile home ready for tenants sometime in March.

— Sophie Bonomi is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. Contact her at sbonomi@soundpublishing.com.

North Kitsap Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Ken LeMay, converses with Gary Watson about the residential fire, Feb. 21. Sophie Bonomi / Kitsap News Group