Firefighters battle 20-acre blaze in South Hill area

UPDATE as of 11 p.m. According to KOMOnews.com, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue reported late Monday that the fire was contained but not entirely under control. No homes had been damaged.

Poor access to the area added to firefighters’ challenges.

“We don’t have paved roads back there and can’t get a fire engine back there and throw water on it like we normally would,” said Guy Overby with Central Pierce Fire.

UPDATE as of 9:15 p.m. Central Pierce Fire reported via Twitter that evacuations were on standby.

UPDATE as of 8:30 p.m. Some people are being evacuated near 200th Street East and 132nd Avenue East, Graham Fire & Rescue said via Twitter.

Central Pierce said the fire is about 20 acres, near the Lipoma Firs Golf Course.

Orting Valley Fire and Rescue said on Facebook that there are at least 11 engines, four tenders, four brush trucks, chiefs, battalion chiefs and a Pierce County Fire Marshal at the blaze.

“Command has also requested a wildland engine strike team, which has brought in brush resources from Browns Point, South Pierce, Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula, West Pierce and OVFR,” the agency said.

Drivers are asked to avoid 200th Street East near Orting-Kapowsin Highway East, and anywhere near the high school.

INITIAL POST: Crews were fighting a fire in undeveloped land in the South Hill area Monday evening.

The blaze started about 5 p.m. due east of Emerald Ridge High School at 12405 184th St. E.

It wasn’t threatening any people or buildings as of about 7 p.m., Central Pierce Fire & Rescue spokesman Ed Hrivnak said.

No one had been injured.

Further details were not immediately available.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Firefighters battle 20-acre blaze in South Hill area."