KENDALL, Wash. – A property owner is praising Whatcom Fire District 14 volunteers for their quick response when his shop caught fire early Monday.

Ryan Rickerts says the fire woke him at about 2 a.m.

He says he was in the process of staining the outbuilding.

“I’d left the oily rags I’d used for the stain on the ground on a cardboard box, which now I know is a notorious way to start a fire,” says Rickerts.

He says fire crews arrived in less than 20 minutes and he’s at least 10 minutes away from the station in Kendall.

They quickly brought the flames under control and prevented them from spreading to his house and surrounding trees.

District 14 recently built barracks for its on-duty volunteers which has greatly improved response times.

Listen to the full interview with Rickerts on our Podcast page.