Live Updates: Sumner Grade Fire holds steady; fire in Wapato Hills is out
Fires continue to burn in Pierce County on Thursday. Here is the latest information gathered by The News Tribune:
Fire marshal releases cause of Graham fire that destroyed homes
2:28 p.m. — A 275-acre wildfire that destroyed five houses and numerous outbuildings in Graham has been ruled accidental, according to the Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Strong winds late Monday toppled a tree onto power lines and dry vegetation burst into flames, starting what is now known as the 244th Command Fire.
‘Super massive’ plume of smoke coming our way
1:40 p.m. — A “super-massive body of smoke” from fires in Oregon and California is expected to move over Western Washington late Thursday, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Forecasters say the smoke will first worsen on the Olympic Peninsula and then move down the Interstate 5 corridor.
So far, most of the wildfire smoke has been too high to create health impacts, but it will soon begin settling downward.
Air quality is likely to become unhealthy by Friday morning.
Man arrested for starting brush fire in Parkland near SR 512/SR 7
1:16 p.m. — A suspected firebug was arrested Thursday after allegedly starting a brush fire in Parkland.
It was just before 1 p.m. when several drivers spotted a man standing in a grassy area near the eastbound state Route 512 ramp to state Route 7.
“This guy lit a match in front of everybody, chucked it into the grass and waved at everyone,” Trooper Ryan Burke said.
A trooper was nearby and responded within minutes.
After a brief foot chase, a 29-year-old Tacoma man was arrested.
Wildfire near Enumclaw at 150 acres; SR 410 remains closed
10:47 a.m. — The Fish Fire burning near Enumclaw is estimated to be 150 acres, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
It’s burning in thick timber about six miles from the city and is not threatening any homes or buildings.
“It pretty much stayed in its footprint overnight,” Greenwater Fire Chief Paul Sowers wrote on Facebook.
Many people in the area still don’t have power and state Route 410 remains closed.
SR 410 is likely to stay shut down into next week, the state Department of Transportation said.
In addition to downed trees and power lines on the highway, chunks from a rock outcropping keep dropping onto SR 410.
“The other fires in the lowlands of Western Washington, and really throughout the Western half of the country, are wreaking havoc on communities and stretching resources to their limits,” Sowers said. “While we are certainly being inconvenienced, we are very fortunate compared to many.”
Thursday is the hottest day of the week, and more smoke is coming
10:19 a.m. — It’s expected to be the hottest day of the week, and smoke levels could worsen by tonight.
Air quality in Tacoma was listed Thursday as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency rated Pierce County’s air quality as moderate.
“Tonight we expect significant smoke from Oregon to reach our region,” the agency said on its website.
Poor air quality is expected through the weekend, which will bring slightly cooler temperatures.
Thursday is forecast to be in the 80s, but Friday and Saturday will drop back into the mid-70s.
By early next week, a system will bring even cooler weather and possible rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Wildfire in Graham now estimated to be 275 acres
8:52 a.m. — A wildfire burning in Graham is now estimated to be 275 acres, according to Graham Fire & Rescue.
The fire has not grown, but officials were able to use better tools to gauge the blaze, which was originally believed to be about 100 acres.
“Now that we’re in there, we got a look,” Assistant Chief Steve Richards said.
The number of houses destroyed has also dropped to five. About 10 outbuildings, like garages and sheds, were also burned.
With state firefighters joining the front lines, fire officials have dubbed this wildfire the 244th Command Fire.
It is about 70 percent contained.
On Wednesday night, the evacuation was lifted and many residents returned home.
Crews will likely be on scene through the weekend putting out hot spots, Richards said.
Wapato Hills fire in Tacoma is out
8:01 a.m. — A 10-acre brush fire in Wapato Hills Park in Tacoma was extinguished Thursday morning, according to the Fire Department.
Flames erupted Tuesday in a wooded area on the 5600 block of Tacoma Mall Boulevard and spread southwest toward Wapato Street and South 64th Street.
Crews were able to get the fire 80 percent contained Wednesday, and worked through the night to put out the blaze.
No buildings were damaged and no injuries were reported.
Sumner Grade Fire still 800 acres and 20 percent contained
7:40 a.m. — The Sumner Grade Fire was still burning early Thursday, but it hadn’t grown.
The fire is holding steady at about 800 acres, and remains 20 percent contained.
“Relatively quiet night on fire ground,” East Pierce Fire tweeted. “Crews again worked diligently through night to maintain progress already achieved.”
Crews from East Pierce Fire & Rescue and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources are trying to gain control of the blaze, which started Tuesday in Bonney Lake and quickly jumped across state Route 410.
The highway remains closed and the evacuation order has not been lifted.
Helicopters joined the battle Wednesday, taking off from Thun Field in Puyallup and dumping water on the flames.
No school for rest of the week in Sumner and Bonney Lake
6:23 a.m. — The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District announced that classes are canceled through Friday.
Wildfires, evacuations, power outages and lack of Internet prompted that decision.
“We’re unable to - equitably - begin school in distance learning. Choosing to focus on well-being of our community.”
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 8:29 AM.
