Inventory lost but no injuries in Columbia Straw Supply fire

STARBUCK-A June 13 fire at the Columbia Straw Supply stackyard on Lyons Ferry Road destroyed or damaged about a thousand tons of wheat straw, which was being stored in preparation for the launch of Columbia Pulp's Lyons Ferry mill, according to a Columbia Pulp Facebook post on Mon., June 17.

Columbia County Fire District No. 3 responded to the blaze at approximately 11 a.m. with Columbia County Fire No. 1, Columbia-Walla Walla County Fire No. 2, Walla Walla Districts 1,3, 4, 7, and 8, and the City of Walla Walla and College Place fire departments aiding. The Lyons Pulp building contractor, Pacific Civil & Infrastructure, also assisted in fire suppression efforts.

The blaze consumed about 15 acres of grassland but was contained to one stack by approximately 3:30 p.m.

There were no injuries and no structures were harmed. Columbia Straw representatives said that the lost inventory is a small fraction of the total straw collected to supply the mill as inventory is stored in multiple stackyards with highway and water separation and the fire is not expected to have any impact on the mill start-up.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.