Green Valley Fire near Auburn threatened some homes
Apr 20, 2021, 8:37 AM | Updated: 8:39 am
A helicopter with water helps to contain a wildfire. (Photo courtesy of waDNR/Twitter)
(Photo courtesy of waDNR/Twitter)
A slow-moving fire in forest land between Black Diamond and Auburn is now contained after burning through a lot of undergrowth.
On Monday, a state team was sent in to help battle the brush fire near Auburn, which had threatened some homes. At one point, Level 2 evacuation orders were in place, which means homeowners had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. No structure was damaged and no one was injured.
@EastsideFire @BvueFD @IAFF2545 @WoodinvilleFire arriving back at #GreenValleyCommand for day 2 operations here near black diamond. #BrushFire #WaWx pic.twitter.com/vpbbEuzXXn
— South Sound Freelance News (@SouthSoundNews) April 19, 2021
The Green Valley Fire burned grass and spread into some trees. The approximately 50-acre fire was first reported Sunday afternoon.
Gov. Inslee: Recent fires in Washington are ‘not natural,’ ‘not an act of God’
According to KIRO 7 TV, the fire had been contained at about 8 p.m. Monday. However, hot spots do remain, which the firefighters can’t reach on foot. It’s being monitored to be sure it doesn’t take off again.
Eastside Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Dave Augenstein said the fire was burning in extremely steep terrain.
“It would be like a high-angle rescue where firefighters would have to be hanging off ropes on the hillside. That’s how steep this hillside is,” he said.
He says it’s a slow moving or “creeping” fire on the hillside, among a lot of trees. Augenstein added that it had been burning dead, dried out material that fell out of trees over the years onto the forest floor.
Investigators say the cause of the brush fire was a burn pile that got out of control.
There are temporary burn restrictions in place in all counties within the Northeast, Northwest, and Pacific Cascade regions, as well as in South Puget Sound due to higher than normal temperatures, low relative humidity, low moisture content in ground fuel, lack of precipitation, expected high East wind, and multiple wildland brush fires.
The state Department of Natural Resources reported Monday that it has responded to 91 wildfires in the past week.
The KIRO Radio Newsdesk and KIRO 7 News Staff contributed to this report.
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