Toxic smoke from commercial fire prompts evacuations, detours in Lakewood
UPDATE 11:45 a.m.: The fire is under control, according to fire officials. Expect road closures to remain in effect for several hours.
Pierce County ALERT sent evacuation notices to 1,185 devices, according to Mike Halliday with Pierce County Emergency Management. Some of those were reverse 911 calls and others were to people who signed up for alerts at the county’s website.
UPDATE 9:37 a.m.: The building on fire belongs to Specialty Products, Inc. According to the company’s website, it manufactures elastomeric polyurea coatings, polyurethane foam systems and plural-component application equipment.
UPDATE 9:22 a.m.: The evacuation order for the fire is a 1/2 mile radius from the fire site, Halliday said.
UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: Firefighters are taking a defensive approach to combating the fire, according to West Pierce Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Jenny Weekes.
“The chemicals in the smoke are hazardous,” Weekes said. “It’s not safe to go in, even with our gear.”
Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at 6:38 a.m., she said.
Ramps to Steele Street are still closed.
UPDATE 9:03 a.m.: The Washington State Patrol reports that state Route 512 is now open.
ORIGINAL STORY: A fire at a commercial building in Lakewood is spewing toxic smoke into the area, authorities reported Thursday.
Evacuations of nearby buildings and road closures, including westbound state Route 512, were implemented.
The burning building is in the 2300 block of 104th Street Court South.
“Hazardous materials are burning, and the smoke is very toxic,” Graham Fire & Rescue tweeted.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue tweeted: “If you have received evacuation orders, please follow them. If you live or work in the area, but did not receive evacuation orders, please stay inside and close your doors and windows. The fire is not yet out and crews are working to extinguish it.”
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department tweeted about 8:45 a.m.: “Evacuation orders have been downgraded again to ‘Shelter in place’ if you are within 1,000 feet.”
This story was originally published January 14, 2021 at 8:42 AM.