Sumner Grade Fire 50% contained, some returning home

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Heavy smoke blowing in from California, Oregon and Eastern Washington wildfires continues to hover over Western Washington, but some of that smoke also is coming from the Sumner Grade Fire near Bonney Lake.

Crews are making progress, with 50% containment, however, the blaze has caused numerous disruptions and at the top of the list are road closures.

An update from East Pierce Fire and Rescue said that eight structures were destroyed and almost 500 acres were burned as of Sunday morning. There are no reported injuries.

Residential areas are blocked off near Myers Road but residents living on the east side of the road recently got good news because evacuations were downgraded to level two, meaning they can return to their homes.

Many who were displaced for days told KIRO 7 that they were worried they might not have a home after the catastrophe.

“The way the winds were going, the way the fire was jumping down the other side of 410–was it going to come this way? So, it was kinda a scary feeling. Was there a place to come back to?” Bette Miller said.

There is a large area along State Route 410 still under the most serious of evacuation orders. Dozens of people cannot return home.

Firefighters and police are watching carefully to make sure the fires don’t flare back up.

Pierce County Department of Emergency Management is asking for the community’s help in providing initial damage estimates to the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Estimates can be submitted at: http://piercecountywa.gov/reportdamage.

Cox Media Group