Brush fire streaks along I-5 North, backs up traffic for at least a mile
A brush fire adjacent to Interstate 5 has caused northbound traffic delays throughout Friday evening.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation website, the fire started just before 5 p.m. The flames were sandwiched between I-5 on the west and Wapato Park on the east; within an hour, it had enveloped about an acre of hillside shrubbery.
The Tacoma Fire Department ordered 17 units to the scene, according to PulsePoint. The units blocked off three of I-5’s northbound lanes, causing heavy traffic south of the flames. The Department of Transportation website reports that vehicles have been backed up to the Bridgeport Way Southwest exit.
The fire department could not be reached for comment about the cause of the fire, how long units will block the interstate, or whether anyone was injured in the burn. By 6:30 p.m., most of the flames had been extinguished and firefighters were conducting overhaul.
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 6:50 PM.