A quickly growing wildfire that triggered evacuation orders in parts of Thurston County Wednesday afternoon has been downgraded as forward progress was stopped.
A Level 3 evacuation order — meaning leave immediately — was issued at 4:20 p.m. in the area of Rainier Road Southeast between Military Road Southeast and 138th Avenue Southeast. Most of this area was downgraded to a Level 2 warning — meaning get set to leave — shortly before 9 p.m.
The fire, at 26 acres, had grown to more than 5 acres an hour after it reportedly started around 3 p.m., according to Watch Duty, a wildfire tracking app. The cause of the fire, moving east earlier Wednesday, was not known.
A Level 2 warning was downgraded to a Level 1 east of Rainier Road to Rainier Acres Road and south of 128th Avenue Southeast and south of 138th to Finian Road, according to Thurston County Emergency Management, which opened a shelter at Tenino High School on Wednesday night at 500 W 2nd Ave.
Officials says fire crews will remain on site overnight.
Earlier Wednesday, Southeast Thurston Fire Chief Mark King said officials were worried about structures in the area, including multiple residences. At least one garage was burned Wednesday afternoon, said King, who did not immediately have additional details.
Thurston County Emergency Management is warning the public to avoid the area and to be aware of possible road congestion.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
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