Tools are used to fix irrigation pipes

The Cub Creek 2 fire started on July 16 and burned more than 70,000 acres. It was caused by the owner using a propane torch to repair the irrigation pipe in hot, dry, and windy conditions.

"Based on the observed fire pattern indicators, field evidence, and obtained statements, it was determined that the Cub Creek 2 wildfire was caused by [owner] Mike O'Connor using a hand-held propane torch to assist him in repairing his irrigation system. The flame of the torch touched Receiving fuel that caused large-scale wildfires," Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) investigator Wil Knowlton wrote in his investigation report dated September 21.

"Mr. O'Connor's use of open flames during periods of very high fire risk, including high temperatures, low humidity, and moderate winds, was an important factor in the Cub Creek 2 wildfire catching and spreading rapidly," Knowlton wrote.

Knowlton pointed out that at the time county and state burning bans were in place, "before igniting this fire, he should consider using open flames in areas with large amounts of fuel," he wrote.

Methow Valley News obtained the investigation report and related documents and photos through a public record request.

The fire broke out near the intersection of West Chewuch Road and Cub Creek Road about 5 miles north of Winthrop. At about 1:22 pm, the Okanagan County Fire District arrived 6 minutes later, the U.S. Forest Service and DNR The firefighters followed closely behind. Knowlton arrived at about 2:40 pm to investigate the cause of the fire.

O'Connor provided Knowlton with a short, voluntary written statement after Knowlton interviewed him at around 3 pm when the fire started. "When repairing irrigation pipes-heating the polyethylene pipe-the fire broke out and the flames could not be controlled-the fire burned like gasoline. A garden hose was not enough to extinguish it," O'Connor wrote.

According to the dispatch report, O'Connor was the first person to report the fire. The screenshot of the phone with the report log includes an entry stating that the reporter said he had been repairing the irrigation pipe near the creek. According to the log, he did not have time to answer more questions because he needed to go back to fight the fire.

Knowlton had a conversation with O'Connor's wife when he returned from shopping for the first time. Knowlton wrote that she said she was not at home when the fire broke out and pointed out her husband.

Knowlton wrote that when Knowlton first saw him, O'Connor was obviously tired and probably overheated. Knowlton took him to the shade and provided water, and then asked if he was at the property when the fire broke out.

"Mike replied that he and his son were on this land together, trying to repair the irrigation facilities next to the creek on their land. Mike said he tried to install a piece of multi-pipe to the metal fittings, but was unable to do so. Mike said he heated the polyp tube with a torch, trying to stretch the polyp tube onto the metal fitting," Knowlton wrote.

"While doing this, Mike said that a fire broke out and quickly started to spread. Mike said there was a garden hose on the pump. He tried to suppress the flame with a garden hose, but it spread so fast that he had to leave the area." Knowlton wrote.

O'Connor's son was under 18 and was not interviewed. Knowlton wrote that O'Connor did not mention that his son had been using a flashlight.

Firefighters called the Aero Methow Rescue Service Center to check O'Connor for burns or other injuries. Aero Methow determined that he was not injured.

Before Knowlton arrived, DNR fire technician Antonio Menchaca marked a large area behind the fire believed to contain the origin. Firefighters are not allowed to enter the area.

After talking with O'Connor, Knowlton investigated the approximate origin area of ​​the blockade. He observed burnt areas, soot and ashes, and signs of the direction of the fire. He wrote: "Compared with the normal fire environment in the area, the large amount of dead leaves and grass accumulated over the years caused the fire to last a long time."

Knowlton wrote that it was too dangerous to enter the area immediately due to the high temperature and many trees that caught fire and collapsed. He recorded wind, temperature and humidity readings.

Knowlton wrote that once the area cooled down, Knowlton found a clearly visible hand-held propane torch on the ground and a pump with a plastic milk canister on top. Knowlton photographed these objects and collected them as evidence.

Near the propane torch, Knowlton found a ratchet, a spectacle case, a razor blade and a pair of scissors, which he also collected. Knowlton confirmed to O'Connor that these items belonged to him.

Knowlton remained on the scene after the fire broke out until around 1 am to review documents and assist in ordering firefighters and other resources.

Due to the increasing scale and complexity of the fire, DNR sent a senior investigator to assist Knowlton. John McDonald, a senior fire investigator in the Northeast, arrived on July 17 the next day. The fire incident commander and South Okanagan fire management officer Daniel Montano (Daniel Montano) also assisted in the investigation.

Montano ordered a senior investigator "because I know that this fire may be a multi-million dollar fire, because the resource investment, resource ordering, and structure I have seen on the ground are threatened [ed], and Fire behavior," he wrote.

By 3:30 pm, the fire had spread to more than 1,000 acres. Just two hours after it started, the fire was extremely fierce and the fire pillar was perfect. Montano wrote in the narrative that it threatened about 100 families.

Due to strong winds, a fire on the site was triggered. By 9 pm, the fire had expanded to more than 3,000 acres. According to the fire activity log, it has also spread in Boulder Creek.

Emergency workers immediately began to evacuate residents in the area. They also evacuated the campsite and other areas in the Chewuch drainage system for thirty miles.

In addition to local, state, and federal firefighters, aerial tankers and other aircraft were also dispatched in the afternoon of the first day.

O'Connor allowed investigators to return on July 17. Knowlton found a piece of molten polyethylene pipe that protected a portion of the bushes in a specific origin area. He wrote that they tracked fire patterns from there to track the progress of the fire.

In a supplementary report, investigator MacDonald wrote that when he arrived the next day, he observed a very obvious "V" pattern at the bottom of the slope near the general origin area. MacDonald wrote that he agreed with Knowlton's observations of fire pattern indicators.

After determining that no one else could enter the blocked origin area, they completed the investigation at around 3 pm on July 17.

Based on fire pattern indicators, evidence, and oral and written statements, “I determined that the Cub Creek 2 fire was the result of flame impact of flammable plants caused by a propane torch heating a plastic irrigation pipe (polypipe),” Knowlton wrote. Fire investigators assessed nine potential causes, including lightning, smoking and arson. He wrote that without a propane torch, there would be no other source of ignition to catch fire.

MacDonald wrote that O'Connor had questions about the fire and his responsibilities. MacDonald and Knowlton explained the process and suggested that O'Connor contact his homeowners insurance company, MacDonald wrote in his report.

According to the agency, DNR staff are sending the investigation report to the state attorney general's office to review and evaluate the incident and make recommendations on whether to promote cost recovery.

The final accident report on the Cub Creek 2 fire on October 1 indicated that the area of ​​the fire was 70,168 acres. Two houses, one vacant and one being remodeled; a yurt; and a travel trailer was burned down on the first day of the fire. According to the large-scale accident report issued by the National Fire Fighting Center on October 27, the fire fighting cost was close to 27.8 million U.S. dollars.

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