Early Monday morning, fire crews were engaged in an intense battle against a large commercial fire in Lakewood, Pierce County. The flames erupted late Sunday night at 11521 Bridgeport Way SW, reported West Pierce Fire and Rescue. Despite initial efforts to subdue the fire from within the building, safety risks forced firefighters to withdraw and transition to a defensive stance.
The inferno, which quickly escalated to a two-alarm status, was witnessed fiercely reigniting, making it impossible for fire crews to directly enter and locate the fire's nucleus. As a result, they had to cut into the structure, attempting to create a trench to prevent the blaze from spreading to an adjacent apartment complex, KOMO News reported.
The flames originated from the Watson Signature Event Center, drawing heavy smoke and immediate emergency response. Although no individuals were discovered inside the event center at the time of the fire, the proximity of the blaze necessitated the evacuation of nearby apartment residents over smoke inhalation concerns. In response, Pierce Transit aided by providing a bus for temporary refuge, as detailed by FOX 13 Seattle.
The ongoing situation prompted officials to close Bridgeport Way completely, from Pacific Highway to 112th Street, and they advised the public to avoid the area and to seek alternative routes. As the firefighting teams continued to work tirelessly to control and eventually extinguish the fire, the presence of onlookers and passersby would only complicate the emergency operations. West Pierce Fire and Rescue stated that the scene was still active and that the cause of the fire was under investigation.
