UPDATE: South Hill evacuation warning lifted as crews get handle on brush fire
A brush fire in South Hill Wednesday afternoon at 160th Street East between Woodland and 74th Avenues East led to an evacuation warning for nearby residents. Two structures were scorched by flames but saved, deputies said.
Residents were not required to evacuate, but some left their homes as the fire spread. Pierce County sheriff’s deputies closed a section of 160th Street East in response to the fire, which began around 12:20 p.m.
Several agencies responded. According to tweets from Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, one firefighter was treated for possible heat exhaustion. No other injuries were reported.
The fire started in a field north of 160th Street East after a tree cracked in half and fell on a power line, said Sgt. Darren Moss, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department.
“The wind picked up a little bit, and it just started to grow,” he said.
Around 2 p.m. the department advised residents living between Woodland and 74th Avenues East to be ready to evacuate. The area under the warning extended about a half mile north of 160th Street East to 152nd Street East.
The fire spread south toward 160th Street East and blew over the road to a field south of the street, Moss said. There, a shed was partially burned and a person’s back yard caught fire along with part of their fence. Moss said a deputy was able to hose down the area and no structures were lost.
Tweets from the department told residents to prepare family members with special needs, mobile property, pets and livestock for a possible evacuation. Moss said deputies went door to door advising residents they should be ready to leave.
By 2:40 p.m. the fire was about 50% contained, according to tweets from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue.
The fire south of 160th Street East was put out by 4 p.m., Moss said. He said crews were still working to contain the fire in the field north of the street. The evacuation warning was lifted around 4:40 p.m.
This story was originally published August 11, 2021 at 1:15 PM.