A little after 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, Anacortes Police Department officers responded to assist the Anacortes Fire Department with a fire on the Tommy Thompson Trail trestle between Fidalgo Bay Road and March's Point.
Officers and firefighters determined that the fire was located near the center of the trestle but closer to South March’s Point Road, so officers responded to the 9000 block of South March’s Point Road. They found the fire had fully engulfed the width of the bridge and the pylons below, and it appeared to be 10 to 15 feet long at the time.
This isn't the first time for a fire on the trestle. In 2009, a fire of undetermined origin destroyed a substantial portion of the central part of the trestle. Months later, volunteers rebuilt the burned portion with funding by the city and donations.
An APD officer contacted the Swinomish Police Department and requested their marine unit respond. The SPD confirmed the request and responded with two vessels shortly after and assisted.
After the fire was extinguished, an officer checked the bridge and found that the damage appeared to span the width of the bridge and about 60 feet of its length, including support pylons and railings.
Mayor Matt Miller expressed his gratitude for the first responders and the commitment to rebuild. “I wish to thank the Anacortes Fire Department, Anacortes Police Department, District 13 Fire, District 11 Fire, Swinomish Police, and responding City departments for their quick response. Due to their actions, we were able to minimize the damage and ensure the safety of our responders. The City of Anacortes shares the grief of the community over this loss, along with our resolve to rebuild. We will be providing more information about how we plan to move forward in the coming days.”
The city closed the trestle this morning. Replacement could take several months.
The cause of the fire is under active investigation. Anyone with information should call 911 to report it. Call 360-299-1985 to leave an anonymous tip.