Firefighters Warn Of Fraudulent Sumner Fire Fundraisers

SUMNER, WA — In the wake of the Sumner Grade Fire, the local community has rallied together to support fire victims in their time of need. Unfortunately, scammers are also trying to take advantage of the community's generosity.

The fire burned 494 acres of land between Sumner and Bonney lake, and destroyed two homes, six outbuildings and one car. It also caused widespread evacuations, forcing residents to leave their homes and seek shelter for days on end.

In response community groups rallied, donating tons of food to those in need and supplies to firefighters battling the blaze. But now firefighters say, it appears a few scammers are trying to con their way into snatching some of those donations.

East Pierce Fire says they've got winding of several GoFundMe accounts that say they're raising money to support the victims of the Sumner Grade Fire, but appear to be scams, with wrong or incorrect addresses and photos that don't match the actual area.

East Pierce Fire says they've notified GoFundMe in an attempt to get the scam fundraisers taken down, but they're warning everyone to double-check before they give.

Pierce County Deputies say theyve seen similar reports, and are warning everyone to be careful.

If you are unsure if a fundraiser is a scam, there are also other ways to give, though firefighters say they can't accept any further donations themselves.

One option is the Red Cross, who supported and sheltered many of the evacuated families.