Woman, Children Saved from Burning SUV, Brush Fire Follows

An unidentified bystander is being called a hero after pulling an unconscious woman and three kids from a burning SUV Wednesday evening around 5:15.

Chelan County Fire District 3 Deputy Chief Dave Nalle said the incident began when an SUV crashed into a gully near the 16000 block of Chumstick Highway. A bystander then came upon the crash and noticed the driver unconscious behind the wheel. Three children were also in the back seat.

As the SUV began to catch fire, the bystander pulled the woman from the front seat while also leading the kids from the vehicle. Soon after getting everyone out, the SUV became fully involved in flames.

The occupants of the SUV suffered only minor injuries.

As if the car accident wasn't frightening enough, the vehicle fire then started a brush fire.

"It probably couldn't have happened in a better location just due to the kind of brush that the car ignited." stated Nalle, "It was actually below the roadway so we had a good place to anchor from."

Chumstick Highway has always been a place fire officials have viewed as high risk. A heavy response from Chelan County Fire Districts 3, 6, and 9 as well as the DNR and Forest Service held the brush fire to just under a quarter acre. Crews had the fire out in about an hour.