After a fire occurred around Hillside Drive last week, the Pullman Fire Department is cautioning Pullman residents of seasonal cottonwood fluff fires.
Deputy Fire Marshal Tony Nuttman said cottonwood fluff fires occur frequently from the middle of May to mid-June.
Nuttman said if Pullman residents see a cottonwood fluff fire, they must call 911 immediately because of how quickly the fire can spread. He said the amount of cottonwood fluff fires varies each year.
“Cotton fluff looks like snow. If you look out your front yard and there’s a bunch of white fluffy stuff all over your front yard, that’s the cotton fluff,” he said. “You can see that cotton fluff just flying through the air.”
Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said the fires are a safety concern. When a cotton fluff fire occurs, police officers will block off the area for the fire department.
Nuttman said the fires burn and spread quickly, especially when the fluff accumulates.