Parts of Lakewood park to be closed indefinitely following fire that forced evacuations
A brush fire at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood on Wednesday afternoon burned 20 acres, according to West Pierce Fire & Rescue officials.
The fire burned on the southwest side of the park near Waughop lake and prompted evacuations after WPFR upgraded its response to a 3-alarm fire.
WPFR battalion chief Michael Dobbs said crews contained the fire to the park, and there was no damage to structures.
Two firefighters suffered minor heat-related injuries and were treated on site, Dobbs said Thursday.
Crews will monitor the area for hot spots or flare-ups through Saturday.
The burned area near Waughop Lake and south of the lake will remain closed until WPFR’s investigation is over and city officials deem it safe to reopen. The rest of the park, including the dog park, is open.
The cause for the fire is still under investigation. Some people who live close to the park told The News Tribune that they heard what sounded like fireworks before the fire started.
Brynn Grimley, communications manager for the city of Lakewood, said officials are not sure how long the area will remain closed, but they are working quickly to get the park back to full use while keeping people safe.
This story was originally published August 17, 2023 at 3:31 PM.
