Firefighters suspect arson to be the blame of  three separate fires.

Tamara Kelly
Staff Writer

Pioneer reporters were first on scene covering three grass fires located at Fort Steilacoom Park. The blazes started around 1 p.m. in the dry grassy field of Fort Steilacoom Park which backs up to Pierce College.

The park has many walking trails that curl around Waughop Lake and a paved trail that is nine-tenths of a mile circling the lake.

With this park being the largest in the city of Lakewood, having 340-acres of open grass land surrounded by houses,  it was critical to contain the blazes.

Firefighter David Emmons had this to say, “Three fires in different locations, it sounds a little suspicious.”

On average the response time of the West Pierce Fire and Rescue is four to six minutes in Lakewood.

Captain Jim Rotonto also speculated the fire could be arson, “We had three fires at the same time, so you do the math.”

Utilizing nine rigs and thirty personnel, Fire and Rescue extinguished  the fires within minutes.

Assistant Fire Marshal Hallie McCurdy said, “We were working on the first two fires when the third one was started. They appear to be intentionally set.”

Lakewood police are currently working on the case.