Wildfire in Sumner-Bonney Lake shuts down SR 410, forces school to be canceled
A wildfire burning between Sumner and Bonney Lake has forced the closure of state Route 410 and delayed the first day of school.
The fire broke out about 12:20 a.m. around Myers Road then spread down the hill toward Sumner.
SR 410 is closed from Bonney Lake to Sumner and about five miles east of Enumclaw. It isn’t expected to reopen anytime soon, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Drivers are using state Route 162 to get around and that is causing traffic backups, the Washington State Department of Transportation said.
The first day of classes Tuesday was canceled in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District due to widespread power outages and evacuations.
Fire officials are unable to say how big the blaze is, but East Pierce Fire Chief Bud Backer said it’s “good sized.”
High winds pose a challenge to containing the wildfire, although it became less active around 5 a.m.
“When the sun comes up, the fire could take off on us again,” Backer said. “Our biggest concern though is a lack of resources because of all the fires in the area.”
About 60 firefighters from East Pierce Fire and surrounding agencies were working the fire Tuesday morning. The chief said he is considering requesting state resources.
Bonney Lake police are evacuating homes near the fire, including Myers Road from 67th Street East to SR 410 and between Myers Road & 182nd Avenue East.
The only evacuation in Sumner was the Winco shopping complex.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 7:36 AM.
