Early-morning blaze destroys abandon barn

It took local firefighters approximately two hours to put out a May 20 morning fire at an abandon barn in Sumner.

According to Deputy Fire Marshal Lane Walthers, 20 firefighters, five engines and a ladder truck responded to the blaze approximately 1:30 a.m. in the 5300 block of 160th Avenue East.

According to East Pierce Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief John McDonald, the three-story barn was fully-involved when the first crews arrived and the fire had begun racing up the steep, wooded hill behind the structure.

McDonald said firefighters worked through the early morning hours to prevent the fire from spreading up the hillside. The barn was a total loss.

Units remained on the scene well into the morning to put out hot spots caused by burning material that was trapped under metal siding.

It was unclear at the time of the fire who owned the property.

The large barn served as a holding area for a former slaughterhouse operation located on the site.

Walthers said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Reach Dannie Oliveaux at doliveaux@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.

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