Sumner Grade Fire has burned 800 acres, four homes
Sep 9, 2020, 5:26 AM | Updated: 5:51 pm
Fire officials say an estimated 800 acres have burned and four homes have been lost in the Sumner Grade Fire, which started as a brush fire on a hillside above SR 410 on Monday.
East Pierce Fire said there were no additional evacuations overnight. The fire remained within the area it was in Tuesday night. However, the area is not safe to re-enter.
Blackhawk dropping water on #SumnerGradeFire pic.twitter.com/d4yD1qGaq3
— East Pierce Fire (@EastPierceFire) September 9, 2020
A Level 3 evacuation order, which means leave immediately, runs along the Puyallup River to 166th on the west end, and Angeline Road East and 182nd on the east. There are no evacuations ordered within neighboring Sumner’s city limits.
The Sumner-Bonney Lake and Dieringer school districts canceled classes on Wednesday for power outages. The Bonney Lake Senior Center is available to be used as an emergency shelter for residents of the area.
East Pierce Fire reported that the fire is approximately 20% contained after crews worked through the night. Containment entails a physical barrier that stops an ongoing fire from continuing to spread past a designated point.
Fire officials say there have been no reports of any injuries among civilians or firefighters.
The King County Sheriff’s Guardian One surveyed the fire on Wednesday:
Gov. Jay Inslee visited near the site of the Sumner Grade Fire and warned all residents in a brief press conference that the danger is still present.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Inslee said. “These fires are continuing, the danger is continuing.”
The governor also pointed out that California, Oregon, and Washington are all battling wildfires right now, adding that the three states are in the “same soup of cataclysmic fire.” Dry grass, hot temperatures, and strong winds have allowed these fires to spread.
Inslee added that these wildfires are only exacerbated by the changing climate we are suffering.
“We should fight the cause of these fires, and I look forward to working with people across the state to do that,” he said.
Right now, however, the state is turning its attention toward helping the victims of these fires. Gov. Inslee plans to visit Malden tomorrow, where 80% of the town was destroyed, and says he is taking steps to help the people of Washington as soon as possible. The governor declared a statewide emergency, and said he will sign a proclamation Wednesday to allow for cash assistance to those in need, with more details to be announced Thursday.
Graham fire update
A fire in Graham, Wash., which started around 10 p.m. Monday after a tree fell on power lines, has destroyed five homes and 10 outbuildings, according to fire officials. The fire was able to quickly spread due to the low humidity and high wind.
It is still considered to be a Level 3 evacuation area, and residents are not yet allowed to return to their homes. The evacuation order will be lifted at 6 p.m. Wednesday, but people are asked to use extreme caution while driving in the area.
#244thCommand Fire-
At 6 P.M. tonight, the level 3 evacuation order will be lifted. Firefighters have worked tirelessly to get our community back into their homes. Please use extreme caution while you are driving in the area as firefighters will be working. 🔥#WAWildfire pic.twitter.com/JjKZC2C5Dt— Graham Fire & Rescue (@GrahamFireWa) September 9, 2020
Gov. Inslee calls fires ‘unprecedented and heartbreaking’
Gov. Inslee delivered an update on the statewide response to several ongoing wildfires Tuesday, calling them “unprecedented and heartbreaking.” He said hot temperatures, low humidity, and high winds have contributed to the explosive growth of the fires over the past 24 hours. The devastation from these wildfires reaches all over the state, Inslee says, not just limited to an eastern or western problem.
Luckily, Inslee reports, there has not been any reports of loss of life yet. Emergency personnel have quickly helped people take shelter.
“The list of fires is long,” Inslee said. “… This is personal for so many of us who have friends and relatives in these neighborhoods.”
To those who have been displaced from their homes, Inslee said they are looking for every possible help that can be rendered as quickly as possible to the communities in need.
The governor also encouraged all residents to heed warnings from officials in terms of evacuation orders. If you or a loved one is being evacuated and need shelter, call the Red Cross at 509-670-5331.
Hilary Franz, state Commissioner of Public Lands, also spoke Tuesday, adding that the recent wildfires have affected more than double of all fires last year in terms of acreage. She warned that much of the state is under extreme fire danger, and echoed the governor that this is an entire state problem.
For updates regarding ongoing fires across the state, you can monitor them on a live map produced by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources here. You can also monitor air quality from smoke in your area here.
