Firefighters with Clallam County Fire District 3 work to extinguish a mattress fire on the East Washington Street off-ramp July 28. Photo by Patrick Young

A mattress just picked up in Port Townsend was a total loss in a fire Saturday evening on U.S. Highway 101.

At 6:30 p.m., Clallam County Fire District 3 responded to Highway 101 at the East Washington Street off-ramp for the report of a mattress fire. Several 9-1-1 calls came in about a fire in a cargo trailer being towed westbound by an older model van, said Patrick Young, fire district public information officer.

The driver of the van noticed the fire, exited onto the East Washington Street off-ramp and with the help of witnesses was able to get the mattress out of the cargo trailer and onto the roadway, Young said.

The fire district blocked access to the off-ramp for about 30 to 35 minutes in order to extinguish the fire safely, he said.

According to Young, the fire was caused by heat build-up in the plastic fenders of the trailer.

The trailer sustained minor damage and the driver of the vehicle was examined for minor burns to the hands but was not transported to the hospital.

Young said the roadway was re-opened to traffic after Fire District 3 crews helped to clean up the debris. Engines from Blyn and Sequim responded along with a medic unit and an ambulance from Olympic Ambulance.