GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Towering pine trees, ignited by a brush fire, shot flames into the afternoon sky in Gig Harbor on Sunday as drivers on State Route 16 watched in awe. But the quickly-growing fire was a scarier sight for the several dozen residents in a neighborhood just steps away.
For Maryanne Allen, a split-second decision seemed hardly quick enough when she woke up from her nap to find the air around her home thick with smoke. She said her husband then noticed flames near their property.
"He saw them coming closer," said Allen.
The blaze was also visible from the busy Gig Harbor highway State Route 16, and fire crews said the flames threatened the mobile home park. Allen's is one of 64 homes on the property.
As she left her home per the instructions of responders, said she said she could not help but think about what was at stake: "All the things that we have in our home that you can't replace... You've got pictures from years and years ago, mementos from the kids from school, even their report cards."
The fires started around 1:45 p.m. and closed lanes on eastbound State Route 16 near Wollochet Drive.
The nearby buildings did not sustain any damage, but playground equipment at the Peninsula Lutheran Church did get burned, according to Perry Oldenburg of Gig Harbor Fire.
The fire has been contained but is not completely extinguished. Crews are expected to be working until late Sunday night.
Crews do not know what caused the fire, but it was, "burning pretty rapidly, so we called for additional resources," according to Tom Voigt, Battalion Chief, Gig Harbor Station 51.
Nine fire engines, four water tenders, three medics and an ambulance responded to the scene. Four fire districts responded to the call; West Pierce, Key Peninsula, Tacoma and South Kitsap.
One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, according to Oldenburg.
So ahead of this year's Fourth of July, Allen's feeling particularly grateful for the brave service of first responders.
"They're on the spot and they're excellent," said Allen.
Still, as Voigt pointed out, future risk remains this fire season.
"Everything's very dry," he said.
Anne Nesbit, Prevention Specialist at Key Peninsula Fire, said this summer is a particularly risky one for brush fires.
"Honestly, this year is the first time in my memory, and I've been doing this for 13 years, that we've had a burn ban so early, so early on... so the risk is high," she said. "We get spoiled in the Pacific Northwest because it does rain all the time, that when we get a little bit of sun, we think, 'Oh, it's going to be fine, because we're so wet.' But really, things dry out pretty quickly. And we've had some good long stretches with no rain."
For these reasons, Allen is hoping a brush fire like this doesn't happen again, and she is also urging the public to be vigilant and act responsibly.
"It's gonna be a concern," said Allen. "We're all gonna be on high alert."
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington.