Remote location slows response

Information released by DCFD4, Orondo Fire Department

A newly constructed garage was consumed by fire Saturday night on Badger Mountain. The fire was reported just before 9 pm.

The owner reported he had been working in the garage, went home and returned to find it fully involved in fire. The shop was newly constructed being completed two weeks prior. The cause of the fire is under investigation with initial suspicion pointing toward a wood stove that was being used to heat the building at the time of the fire.

The location was very remote with access on top of Badger Mountain, then down several miles of gravel county road and then several miles unimproved private roadway requiring 4-wheel drive access. Fire engines and water tenders remained on the county road with wildland brush trucks used to attack the fire.

Units responded from Orondo Fire, Waterville Fire, East Wenatchee Fire, Waterville EMS, Ballard Ambulance and the Douglas County Sheriff Department with 18 emergency responders on-scene.