Evacuation orders lifted in Lakewood after major fire at Fort Steilacoom Park
Aug 16, 2023, 3:30 PM | Updated: 6:05 pm
Residents have been advised to evacuate around the area of a brush fire at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood on Wednesday, Aug. 16. (Photo: KIRO 7)
(Photo: KIRO 7)
People in several dozen homes and at Pierce College who were advised to stay away from those buildings because of a brush fire in Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood can return home, the Lakewood Police Department wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The law enforcement agency added that West Pierce Fire & Rescue (WPFR) crews are still on the scene cleaning up hot spots and working with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
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WPFR wrote on X Wednesday afternoon the fire previously developed from a two-alarm fire to a three-alarm fire.
They later wrote that the “Department of Natural Resources has been called in for resources along with resources from surrounding communities.” And they also reported the same department “is dropping water on the fire now with their helicopter.”
Earlier Wednesday afternoon, the city of Lakewood, on X, advised evacuations for the following areas:
- 98th Street SW: If you are on 98th Street, east of Farwest Drive
- 100th Ave SW: If you are between 98th Street and 99th Street
- 99th Street: If you are East of Farwest Drive between there and Fort Steilacoom Park
- 100th Street CT: If you are between Farwest and Fort Steilacoom Park
- 100th Ave: If you are north of 101st Street (also known as Lake Louise Drive)
- 100th Street: If you are off 100th Avenue
The city also noted on X that “the evacuations are not required, but highly encouraged at this time.”
An alert put on the Pierce College website Wednesday afternoon read the following: “Pierce Alert: Fort Steilacoom campus is evacuating today, Aug. 16, due to a nearby fire. Do not come to FS. Pierce College Puyallup is open for all.”
That alert has since been removed and the college has a notice on its homepage stating, “Pierce College Fort Steilacoom and all other sites will be open (Thursday) unless notified otherwise.”
Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) wrote on X Wednesday afternoon they were “monitoring” the fire and noted that they had “begun the process of de-energizing some power lines to help with firefighting efforts.” and “about 3,000 customers are already impacted.”
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Later in the afternoon, TPU wrote on X that all customers had been restored.
It is not yet known what started the fire.
