Two structure fires and a grass fire kept East Pierce Fire and Rescue crews busy on an extremely hot day. It started with a residential fire on Tapps Island. Fifteen minutes later, the firefighters were called to a fire in Edgewood at the opposite end of the fire district. While firefighters were still battling the Edgewood blaze, they were called to a grass fire on State Route 167 and Jovita Boulevard.
At 2:40 p.m., the firefighters responded to the first fire. Flames were reported climbing the exterior of a two-story home on the 20300 block of 29th Street Court East, on Lake Tapps. The fire was quickly extinguished and never extended into the house. The Pierce County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause.
While firefighters were attending to that fire, a large, black column of smoke began rising across the valley in Edgewood. At 2:55 p.m., firefighters were called to a garage fire. Two, large detached buildings were fully involved when the crews arrived. Three classic cars that housed in the 10-car garage/shop were totaled. Two other vehicles parked outside the garage were also damaged. The fire quickly spread to a shelter for three goats and a pig. “The animals evacuated on their own and were not injured,” says East Pierce Fire Chief Bud Backer.
The resident reported hearing explosions in the shop area. Although there were some shotgun shells stored there, Backer says the noise was probably caused by a supply of aerosol cans. Heat from the fire melted vinyl siding on the nearby residence, but the firefighters were able to stop the blaze before it destroyed the home.
East Pierce Assistant Fire Marshal Lane Walthers estimates more than $100,000 in damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The blaze spread to a grass pasture near the structures. Due to the dry conditions, embers from the structure fire also started several spot fires downwind in neighbor’s yards. “We typically don’t see structure fires cause spot fires in this area,” Backer says. “But because of the conditions, this is now something that we need to consider when fighting fires.” He says that the department will need to include at least one additional unit at future fires while the hot weather lasts.
At 4:30 p.m., reports of a grass fire in the median on State Route 167 near Jovita Boulevard required the district to call neighboring fire departments to help. Firefighters from South King Fire and Rescue and Central Pierce Fire and Rescue assisted on both the Edgewood fire and the grass fire. According to Backer, the grass fire was limited to the median, but tied up traffic on SR 167 for some time.
“The two structure fires at opposite ends of the fire district put a tremendous strain on East Pierce resources,” Backer says. Twenty-two firefighters were on duty when the fires started. “We need 15 firefighters for a structure fire. We were short before the grass fire even started,” he says. Off-duty firefighters were called in to respond to other emergencies during the fires.
No one was injured during any of the fires. However, the 90-plus degree temperatures did take their toll on the firefighters. “Several firefighters were treated at the scene for heat and dehydration. They didn’t require hospitalization and all of them returned to duty after cooling down,” Backer says.
Backer notes that the hot weather and dry conditions are expected to continue through the weekend. “Please use extra caution during this heat wave,” he says. “Remember that there is a burn ban in place. That means no outdoor burning until the ban has been lifted.”
