Evacuations ordered in parts of Pierce, Thurston counties as wildfires destroy homes
Multiple wildfires burning in Pierce County destroyed several homes early Tuesday morning and prompted evacuation orders for some neighborhoods. Later in the day, evacuations were also ordered for portions of Thurston County.
Air quality is expected to remain poor in western Washington throughout the day Tuesday. Everyone, especially those in sensitive groups, should stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activity if possible.
Thurston County fire officials have implemented an evacuation notice for residents in the Mima, Bordeaux Road, Barboullat areas due to a large brush fire Tuesday evening.
The sheriff's office said the fire had grown to 50 acres in size by 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. At least two homes and two outbuildings burned. No injuries had been reported.
Thurston County Sheriff's Office and West Thurston Fire said the reunification place for evacuees will be at Littlerock Elementary and an animal shelter will be available at the Thurston County fairgrounds.
Those needing assistance should contact TC Emergency Management at 360-867-2800.
According to The Olympian, the brush fire is reported 10 acres, moving southwest of Bordeaux and Mima roads.
A brushfire in Graham exploded overnight, burning 100 acres and gutting five homes and 10 outbuildings in the 15400 block of 240th Street East. The fire was caused by a tree that fell on power lines. Evacuation orders remain in place for the El Dorado Estates neighborhood as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Graham Fire officials around 8 p.m. said crews will continue to work overnight to monitor the fire in the area to make sure it doesn't cross containment lines. Officials say several hotspots remain active, but the fire is under control.
Graham Fire Chief Steve Richards said no people have been injured, but some livestock may be missing.
Other fires are burning in the Sumner and Bonney Lake areas. Evacuation orders are in effect in those areas too. Text PCALERT to 888777 to sign up for additional updates.
Officials are warning people not to fuel the fires, 90 percent of which are human-caused:
- -Avoid anything that can spark, from grills to mowers
- -No cigarette butts out the car window
- -If towing, secure all chains & don’t let them drag.
Pierce County and Kitsap County fire officials have implemented an immediate outdoor burn ban in the areas due to the rise in fire dangers and exhausted resources. This includes any outdoor recreational burning such as fire pits and charcoal burning.
East Pierce Fire says the evacuation areas include Meyers Road in Bonney Lake and some areas along Sumner Tapps Highway East in Sumner. Winco Foods complex was evacuated as well.
A number of roads are closed in the area as of 6:55 a.m. Tuesday. Check the latest Pierce County road closures here.
School has been canceled today in the Puyallup, Orting, Sumner-Bonney Lake and Federal Way school districts. Sumner-Bonney Lake School District and Dieringer will be closed Wednesday due to power outages in the areas. Dieringer SD closure also includes pre-K and kindergarten.
WSDOT said on Twitter SR 410 between Sumner and Bonney Lake will remain closed on Tuesday until further notice. A detour is available at SR 165 and 162.
Bonney Lake Police around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday has issued a Level 3 immediate evacuation for residents south and west of SR 410, toward Angeline Road and Rhodes Lake Road toward McCutcheon. Those needing assistance or have questions can contact Pierce County Evacuation Line 253-798-1571.
SR-410 is closed in both directions in several areas, including between 181st Avenue East and 166th Avenue East. On Tuesday, WSDOT said SR 410 has an extended closure east of Enumclaw, between milepost 29 and 31, near Southeast Mud Mountain Road.
The closure will be in effect for the next several days. At this time, WSDOT says there are no detour options.
Tacoma Fire officials are also working on a fire near Tacoma Mall Blvd that started at the top of Wapato Hills Park late Tuesday afternoon. Officials say the brush fire is moving southwest toward S. Wapato St. and S. 64th St. There are no evacuations notices in the area currently.
Tacoma Fire says they are going door to door talking with residents. No buildings have been reportedly damaged due to the fire.
The wildfires burning in Pierce County are among the many wildfires burning across Washington state. On Monday alone, nearly 300,000 acres burned in Washington.
Fire crews are getting the upper hand on the Evans Canyon fire in Yakima and Kittitas counties, which has burned more than 75,000 acres. Since the fire started over a week ago, it has now been 80% contained.
The Cold Springs fire just south of Omak in Okanogan County is threatening the entire town of Mansfield and at least 150 other homes. Washington DNR says the fire has spread over 163,000 acres and is 0% contained, as over 200 firefighters on the ground and in the air work to keep it contained. Officials said Tuesday night the fire has been stopped from spreading further.
All of Mansfield has been evacuated, and the fast-moving fires destroyed 80 percent of the town of Malden in one day.