Debris fire elevated to vegetation fire, Multiple crews respond

SAMOA, Calif. (KIEM)-Fire crews were dispatched to a vegetation fire Friday night on the Samoa Peninsula, according to Samoa Fire Peninsula Fire District’s Assistant Chief Troy Smith.

“Samoa Peninsula Fire District and Arcata Fire District were dispatched to a report of a debris fire in the area just north of the power lines and 255,” he said. “The first unit that arrived on scene found a large glow coming from Gopher Lane, which is an abandoned house, ranch-house.

“Turned out to be upgraded to a vegetation fire, which grew to about half an acre, large in size.”

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The department’s biggest concern is a lack of water access, most communities in the area are rural, according to Smith.

Smith says, Arcata Fire District’s water tender is back after it was lent out to an outside agency battling wildfire.

“Right now, water tenders are kind of hard to come by,” he said. “To get the resources coming, were looking at five-to-ten minutes away.”

Smith has on last message for those who camp-out or recreated on Samoa’s beaches.

“The fire department out here would really like if the people that are having fires out on the beach, keep the fires closest to the water,” he said.

Smith asks anyone who sees a column of smoke coming from tree lines or the Samoa area, should call 911 immediately.