Bonney Lake Brush Fire Under Control, But Smoke May Linger

BONNEY LAKE, WA — A brush fire near a Bonney Lake neighborhood is no longer a threat to the public, but firefighters will continue to secure the scene as the ashes smolder.

After watching the fire overnight and into Friday morning, East Pierce Fire confirmed that one of its crews would be assisting the Department of Natural Resources in securing the fire and putting out any lingering hotspots through the day. Though the fire is fully contained and the threat of spread is limited, firefighters warn that residents may smell or see lingering smoke over the next few days.

East Pierce Fire also took the time to thank the community for the outpouring of support it received when firefighters first rushed to the blaze Thursday.

The brush fire was first reported around 3:30 p.m. Thursday as a slow moving, 100 square foot fire burning near 210th and 132nd St. Ct. E. But the fire quickly picked up pace and eventually grew to several acres in size, forcing the Pierce County Sheriff's Department to issue a level one evacuation order for the nearby neighborhood at around 6 p.m.

A level one evacuation does not mean that residents need to leave their homes just yet, but it does mean they need to be prepared to go at moment's notice, if the situation escalates. However, roughly 2 hours later the order was rescinded without anyone having to abandon their property.

Units that responded included a fire chopper and a team specializing in protecting structures. Thanks to their combined efforts, no one was injured, and no buildings were damaged. By 9:40 p.m. the fire was fully contained.

The quick response was sure to be a relief for a community that knows the danger of wildfires all too well: Last year's Sumner Grade Fire burned hundreds of acres of land near SR 410, and destroyed at least two homes, six outbuildings and one vehicle.