Car Accident Causes Brush Fire on McNeil Canyon Road Thursday

Fire departments from across much of the region responded to a wind-driven brush fire on McNeil Canyon Road in Douglas County Thursday afternoon that was caused by a car accident.

Spokesperson Kay McKellar said the fire started around 2:10 pm when an unnamed man lost control of the minivan he was driving on McNeil Canyon Road. The van left the road and crashed, starting a brush fire with the heat from the van's muffler.

"They said it was at least one acre at that time." McKellar said, "They struck a 2nd alarm that sent in extra units. The fire was in brush and sage."

The fire grew to three acres before being knocked down and at one point threatened a nearby home. There were no injuries other than to the man in the car accident. Despite a neck injury he refused treatment at the scene.

Douglas County Fire Districts 2 and 4, as well as Chelan County Fire Districts 1, 5 and 7 responded to the incident.