Local

4 homes, 2 barns lost in Thurston County brush fire

GRAND MOUND, Wash. — Authorities say a brush fire south of Olympia in the Grand Mound area burned a half a dozen structures and a business before the fire was contained and evacuation orders were lifted Tuesday night.

Thurston County Emergency Management officials said the fire, which started near 183rd Avenue Southwest between Guava Street and Case Road started and grew quickly near Interstate 5 Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities ordered people in about 100 homes around Sargent Road Southwest were told to evacuate immediately while the fire moved southeast.

Scroll down to keep reading.

Chopper 7 flew over the scene of the fire, which quickly spread to more than 150 acres. Officials say the fire burned less than a square mile.

As of Tuesday night, officials say four homes, one business and two barns were lost. No injuries were reported.

When longtime Grand Mound resident, Anthony Devoe saw the flames nearby, he took matters into his own hands.

%

INLINE

%

"I grabbed the hose as it came over here and started hosing the house off, and then came over here and started protecting this area,” said Devoe, who is standing in front of his home.

Devoe said the fire started across the street from his house, which is by a freeway, and then spread northeast.

"Jags [Top Soil], the business down there in the corner – in the northwest corner – is completely destroyed. And also the residential area behind it burnt completely to the ground,” he said. "This lady down here ... it's a real tragedy with her losing everything [from her home] and those folks across the street."

Crews from Thurston County, Mason County, Grays Harbor and Lewis County were all there to help out.

The American Red Cross opened a wildfire evacuation shelter in Rochester.