Kirkland Firefighters Assist With Multiple Wildfires

KIRKLAND, WA—Kirkland firefighters are not only assisting with large fires in their home state but they are assisting firefighters in other states as well.

According to city officials, Kirkland firefighters continue to work with other crews to battle the flames of the Sumner Grade Fire in nearby Bonney Lake. They are working around the clock to control hot spots and dig fire lines to assist with the containment of the fire, city officials said.

As of Monday, containment of the Sumner Grade Fire remains at 65 percent with nearly 500 acres burned. The cooler weather and higher humidity have positively impacted efforts on the fire ground, crews said.

According to East Pierce Fire, a total two homes, six outbuildings and one car have been lost in the Sumner Grade Fire, which started the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 8.

City officials said several Kirkland firefighters also also assisting with the fires raging in western Oregon and California.

"Homes have been lost with many people still missing. Our hearts go out to all impacted. Thank you to all the firefighters working these tragic fires," city officials posted in a tweet.

The death toll from the fires in California, Oregon and Washington stood at 31 Sunday. Most of the fatalities were in California and Oregon.

In Oregon alone, more than 40,000 people have been evacuated and about 500,000 are in different levels of evacuation zones, Gov. Kate Brown said.

In California, a total of 28 active major fires have burned 4,375 square miles, and 16,000 firefighters are trying to suppress the flames, Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director Daniel Berlant said.

AP News contributed to this story.