A fire burned a wooden shelter at the homeless encampment along the Chehalis River in Aberdeen Tuesday morning. There was no one believed to be inside when it happened, and one person had been living in it. The fire started a little after 9 a.m., and was put out in about a half-hour.

Multiple campers used shovels and buckets to throw dirt and water on the fire to help put it out, according to Police Sgt. Darrin King. Firefighters then arrived and put out remaining hot spots. King said it’s unknown how it started, but added these kinds of fires are more common when it’s cold and people make fires to stay warm. Michael Wells, a person camping near the burned structure, said he and around six others cleared the area around the fire so adjacent tents and shacks didn’t catch on fire also.

“We pulled items that will burn, and throw dirt and water on top of the area so it doesn’t jump to other camps, at least we try,” said Wells.