Sumner Grade Fire: Road Closures Lifted, Crews Put Out Hot Spots

BONNEY LAKE, WA — After an extremely rough week for Sumner and Bonney Lake residents, the Sumner Grade Fire is slowly coming under control.

Late Sunday, Bonney Lake announced that all remaining evacuations had been downgraded to level 1, meaning that residents can return to their homes, but should remain ready to leave again if the situation somehow gets much worse. That warning remains in place as of Tuesday morning, but there have been some improvements: late Monday firefighters announced that containment had grown to 85 percent, and early Tuesday all closed roads reopened to traffic.

The Sumner Grade Fire first sparked up near the intersection of State Routes 167 and 410 late September 6. For over a week, it has forced crews to close a stretch of the 410 between Sumner and Bonney Lake, which has just now been reopened.

East Pierce Fire says drivers heading along the 410 may see several smoldering hot spots, which their crews are still working to extinguish. However, they ask that witnesses only call 911 if they see flames directly threatening homes or people. As of their last report, East Pierce Fire believes the Sumner Grade Fire has destroyed two homes and six outbuildings.

Not only is the 410 reopened, but Myers Road, which had before been open just to local residents traveling to and from their homes, has now been fully reopened to the general public.

With that restriction lifted, all formerly closed roads around the Sumner Grade Fire should now be reopened. However, anyone planning a longer trip down the 410 will be in for one last closure: SR 410 remains closed east of Enumclaw due to the Fish Fire in that area. Crews say they expect that closure to last at least a few weeks.