RAINIER, Wash. — Level 3 ‘Leave Now’ wildfire evacuation orders have been downgraded for people in Rainier, a city in Thurston County.
Those who live in the area of Rainier Road between 138th Ave SE and Military Road were told to leave immediately around 4 p.m.
Since then, that order has been downgraded to a Level 2 ‘Get Set.’
Those on the outskirts of that initial target zone have had Level 1 evacuation orders for several hours.
The Level 1 ‘Be Ready’ order is in effect for people east of Rainier Road to Rainier Acres Road, and south of 128th Ave S. South of 138th Ave. SE to Finian Road are also under this order.
The fire burned 26 acres and is about 90% contained as of 10:40 p.m.
Although the fire was quickly under control, the flames had ripped through parts of a Rainier neighborhood.
“I started hosing all these down, hoping to get them wet, but as you can see, it got really close,” said resident Al Ceniza.
The fire made it all the way to Ceniza’s property. It burned through his fence, greenhouse and a portion of his garden.
“I could feel the heat as soon as we came out here,” he added. “It was a wall of fire. Yeah, all these were burning.”
Ceniza told KIRO 7 he was home when the flames were headed his way.
“Our next-door neighbor over here, he banged on my door and he’s like ‘Dude, there’s a fire!’ I looked and there’s a fire all over… so I was like okay it’s time to grab the dogs and call my family like we gotta get out of here,” he explained.
Ceniza says he called 911 and started hosing down what he could until the firefighters arrived minutes later.
Crews were the ground and, in the air, to try and protect the surrounding homes off Rainier Road.
Ceniza was just grateful the flames were stopped short of his home.
“Thurston County Fire Department, thank you very much. Appreciate your help,” he said.
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