Brush fires disrupt traffic on Western Washington highways
Aug 17, 2016, 5:06 PM | Updated: 7:47 pm
Fires along SR 599 and SB I-5 are stalling traffic during the Wednesday commute. (WSDOT)
(WSDOT)
Drivers along I-5 and State Route 599 were stuck in their cars while firefighters battle several brush fires on Wednesday evening.
I-5 near Des Moines
Fire crews blocked two lanes for a large brush fire on Interstate 5 at South 216th Street on late Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy smoke still billowed over the interstate during the evening commute at 4:45 p.m.
One of the fires was put out nearly an hour later.
Another roadside fire along southbound I-5 near S 216th St. pic.twitter.com/W5pYDQu9EZ
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 17, 2016
#VIDEO from @KIRO7Seattle viewer of a #brushfire burning on NB I-5 at exit 152 near Federal Way #rightnow pic.twitter.com/sz4E7jDVsP
— Terry Griffin (@TerryKIRO7) August 17, 2016
State Route 599 near Tukwila
A road side fire along southbound State Route 599 completely blocked southbound lanes near the State Route 99 interchange around 3:30 p.m.
Within 10 minutes of the fire starting, it grew to a second-alarm fire.
Officials have no idea how the fire started.
Road side fire along southbound SR 599 just south of SR 99/Pac Hwy interchange has fire crews blocking right lane. pic.twitter.com/YqIiUDUhrE
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 17, 2016
If you usually use southbound SR 599 near SR 99, you may want to take an alt route. It’s closed due to brush fires pic.twitter.com/RNoqA7F8B7
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 17, 2016
WSDOT cameras show what appears to be two fires just below the light rail tracks.
Fire danger in Washington state
Washington State Department of Transportation says there is a significant fire risk right now in Washington.
Fire danger will also be high to extreme Thursday through Saturday as the wind blowing out of the Cascades into the Western Washington lowlands will be very dry. Fires that occur could spread rapidly.
