Two Sumner homes
are severely damaged
during a 12-hour span
Fire crews finally get upper hand on stubborn brush fire along SR 410
Fire severely damaged two homes in Sumner – 12 hours apart – during the weekend.
The first fire broke out after midnight Sunday in the 1900 block of Williams Avenue. The occupants of the single-family residence were not home when the fire began, but returned as firefighters fought to contain the blaze.
East Pierce Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Barry Barquest said fireworks are to blame for the fire that started in the grass near a patio then spread to a detached shed and temporary carport before igniting the wooden siding on the house.
Firefighters from Central Pierce and Edgewood fire departments joined East Pierce crews to bring the fire under control.
According to East Pierce Deputy Chief John McDonald, firefighters had a difficult time accessing the fire from inside the home.
“The fire got into the walls and went up into the attic, which had been converted to a storage space,” he said.
Firefighters were unable to locate the stairs to the attic until the occupants returned home and pointed them to a small stairway in the laundry room.
Damage to the rental home was estimated at $200,000.
East Pierce responded to a second house fire at 12:06 p.m. Sunday behind the 1900 block of Traffic Avenue. Several neighbors called to report flames and smoke visible through the windows of the vacant rental house.
Quick action on the part of firefighters, including East Pierce, Central Pierce and Edgewood, saved several cars that were at risk in the Sunset Chevrolet sales lot behind the house.
McDonald said the fire began on the first floor of the turn-of-the-century house that had recently undergone renovation.
Damage was estimated at $100,000 and the cause of the fire in under investigation.
There was no was injuries reported in either fire.
To comment on this story view it online at www.blscourierherald. Reach Dannie Oliveaux at doliveaux@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8209.
Less than 24 hours after a brush fire started on Elhi Hill along state Route 410 between Bonney Lake and Sumner, fire crews had taken control of the blaze.
East Pierce Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief John McDonald said crews from the Cedar Creek Correction Center worked Thursday morning, digging around the area where a brush had started July 15. The unit was under the direction of the state Department of Natural Resources.
The fire started around 2 p.m., according to a witness who lives on Myers Road. He said smoke was very heavy in his area.
The right westbound lane of SR 410 was closed after fire crews reached the scene and it was reopened Thursday morning, McDonald said.
The fire spread up the hill and fire crews were unable to reach it on foot. East Pierce called in two helicopters – one from DNR and another from Northwest Helicopter Services of Olympia – to scoop water from Lake Tapps and Hidden Lake to help extinguish the blaze.
“DNR was a great help to us in managing the helicopters and scouting out trails for our crews and equipment,” McDonald said.
A small portion of Myers Road was blocked for about two hours as firefighters worked to contain the fire.
The fire was contained about 5 p.m. July 15, but crews stayed through the afternoon and night to make sure no hot spots would not flare up.
Crews from Central Pierce, Orting Valley and Edgwood assisted East Pierce Fire and Rescue.
To comment on this story view it online at www.blscourierherald. Reach Dannie Oliveaux at doliveaux@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8209.
