Residents in 15 homes told to be ready to evacuate in EC

A brush fire grew out of control Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 29) about six miles east of Montesano.

Crews from Grays Harbor Fire District 2, the state Department of Natural Resources, Montesano Fire Department and Grays Harbor Fire District 5 battled the about 2-acre blaze near Evergreen Lane into the freezing night.

By 10:30 Wednesday (Oct. 30), the fire was 100 percent contained. State DNR and Fire District 2 crews stayed on the scene to finish moping up the fire, Hannah Cleverly, of Grays Harbor County Emergency Management, said. The mop-up job was about 50 percent complete this morning, Cleverly said.

She said a Level One evacuation order for 15 homes near the fire was lifted this morning. Level One means that residents are told to be prepared to leave if the situation worsens.

A private property owner had the area logged this summer, Cleverly said. While clearing the brush, the fire grew out of control for the property owner and crews were called in. The fire still is under investigation.