DNR: Mt. Si Fire Caused By Humans, 75 Percent Contained

A wildfire on Mt. Si that began burning over the weekend and closed several popular hiking trails in the area was human-caused, state officials said Monday afternoon.

The State Department of Natural Resources said the 444th Fire, named after a nearby road near the town of Tanner, is 75 percent contained and involves approximately 80 firefighters and support personnel.

The blaze started Friday and state officials shut down area hiking trails on Saturday as the wildfire began to spread.

DNR officials said the actual cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Eastside Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Wes Collins said the 444th Fire isn't the first wildfire the agency has faced this year, but it certainly is the largest. Eastside Fire has put out three smaller wildfires so far last month, including one near Exit 41 on I-90.

The King County Fire Marshal's Office announced a Phase 1 Burn Ban is in effect as of Monday morning, July 29.

"If you're burning a camp fire, keep it small and contained," Collins said.

Fires in urban areas also continue to be a threat, including a small fires in Sammamish started by fireworks and a second one where someone threw a cigarette on the ground that ignited the landscape bark and then a nearby house.

"We've had a number of small fires that started in landscaping this year," Collins said. "It's dry and we want everybody to be careful with anything that causes sparks."