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'Biblical rain' washes away hillside under house in Brinnon

Jefferson County fire officials have warned against entering or occupying the home due to unstable foundation and cliff erosion.

BRINNON, Wash. — A house in Brinnon has been marked as an unsafe structure after a large section of hill washed away beneath it into the Duckabush River.

According to a placard near the front door, Jefferson County fire officials have warned against entering or occupying the home due to unstable foundation and cliff erosion.

Officials have instructed the homeowner to "seek immediate remedy."

According to neighbor Vince Thayer, the homeowner was out of state during this week's rain storm.

"It was a biblical rain. More rain than I've ever seen coming down," he said.

According to the KING 5 First Alert Weather team, Brinnon recorded some of western Washington's highest rain totals this week.

Nearly four inches of rain fell over a 24-hour period between mid-afternoon Tuesday and Wednesday. Additional bands of rain moved through late Wednesday and were expected to continue Thursday morning.

"It was just blasting water with waterfalls that we've never seen," said Thayer. "Just shooting into the river. A huge pile of trees down there that weren't there before."

He first noticed debris sliding down the hill early Wednesday morning.

"I looked up and saw this house coming off the side of the mountain over here and I called 911 as fast as a I could," Thayer said. "The fire department came down to [my] house first and I walked them out and showed them the side of the hill and all the trees that were down."

By late afternoon, fire crews had left the property, according to photos provided by Thayer.

KING 5 was unable to reach Jefferson County officials for an update beyond what was provided on the aforementioned placard.

Parts of the property were also taped off with "danger" tape.

Thayer and another neighbor said the homeowner was expected to return to the property in the near future.

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