Crime & Safety
Wildfires Rage In Western Washington In Record March Heat
Dozens of fires have broken out since Monday, including a 15-acre blaze that threatened Pierce County residents on Wednesday.
EATONVILLE, WA - Pierce County firefighters battled a 15-acre brush fire near Eatonville on Wednesday night, one of dozens of fires that have broken out across Western Washington amid record-breaking March heat.
Wednesday's fire near Eatonville burned near the intersection of SR 702 and Jackson Road, which is just west of SR 7 near the Jehovah's Witnesses temple.
"Firefighters urge residents on Jackson Road to evacuate as this fire continues to grow," the Pierce County Firefighters union wrote on Twitter.
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Washington State Patrol officers were heading to the scene to assist with traffic control.
On top warm temperatures, strong breezes have blown steadily since Monday, feeding and spreading fires.
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State Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hillary Franz said Wednesday that 24 wildfires had broken out across Western Washington since Monday.
On Tuesday, when temperatures reached almost 80 degrees, fires were reported in Spanaway, Bellevue, and Seattle.
A brush fire was reported in White Center south of Seattle on Wednesday around 3 p.m. Almost at the same time, firefighters were responding to a wildland fire in North Bend.
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