Relatively calm winds and a rapid response helped firefighters from the Ocean Shores Fire Department rapidly neutralize a growing dune fire on Tuesday afternoon.

Dune fires are a particular concern for the coastal fire department, with their potential to grow explosively as they’re driven before the winds, causing a threat for the homes in the city, said Fire Chief Brian Ritter.

“It was south of the Chance a la Mer approach. It came in at almost 6 o’clock,” Ritter said in an interview. “Luckily, we didn’t have too much wind. If we had wind we could have been in a little bit of trouble.”

Firefighters moved rapidly to make contact with the fire, Ritter

“We were able to put two brush units on it and they were able to knock it down quickly,” Ritter said. “They had it knocked down and out within 30 to 45 minutes. It was a done deal.”

The cause of the fire is unknown, Ritter said, though it takes little to ignite the dry, flammable grasses.

“We don’t know what started it. I don’t know if it was fireworks or cigarettes or someone trying to light a fire,” Ritter said. “We put it out and educated the people around there.”

The fire wasn’t huge, but the potential to expand in the dunes poses a real risk, Ritter said.

“It was about 50 by 50. It was about 70 by 70 total by the time we got knockdown,” Ritter said. “The point of those fires is really about getting to the head of the fire. Got to stop the fire travel.”

Extended burn ban

“I fully expect us to have burn ban or burn restrictions for an extended period of time,” Ritter said. “You cannot have any beach fires right now. You cannot have any recreational fires. It’s really dry.”

The same steady wind that makes the coast such a destination for kite enthusiasts makes it a dangerous place for potential fires.

“In the wildland any time you get a wind driven fire it can become unpredictable,” Ritter said. “If we have a 20 mile per hour wind sustained, that fire is running at 20 miles per hour. Trying to get equipment in the right time to mitigate that threat, it can be really tricky.”

The same winds that can drive flames through the grasses can channel the flames through entryways like doors or windows, Ritter said.

“If we get a wind-driven structure fire, that’s like putting people on the end of a jet,” Ritter said. “Wind driven structure fires in the fire service are extremely dangerous.”

Ritter expressed hopes that people would follow regulations and burn restrictions to keep themselves and their communities safe this summer.

“That’s the whole point,” Ritter said. “Preventing a larger fire incident and protecting lives and property.”

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or michael.lockett@thedailyworld.com.