MYNORTHWEST NEWS

‘It was wild’: Dog-boarding business on rapid Nakia Creek Fire evacuation

Oct 18, 2022, 2:27 PM

dogs...

Photo from Lindsay Hansen and Woof & Tumble

Thousands of southwest Washington residents were issued evacuation orders Sunday, some with rapid escalations and little time to prepare after the Nakia Creek Fire exploded in size – growing from 150 to 2,000 acres in just a day.

Among them — Lindsay Hansen and her husband, who run the from their home in Washougal. She described how quickly the situation became an emergency on what appeared at first to be a normal day.

Fire Marshall: Nakia Creek Fire was human-caused, seeking suspects

“I was out in the yard playing with the dogs actually, and I looked up and I noticed that there was quite a bit of smoke,” she said.

She said shortly thereafter, she received text messages from a neighbor warning her about the fire, and an hour later — an immediate jump to a Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation order for her area.

Meanwhile, the fire was growing at a rate of hundreds of acres per hour.

(The map of the evacuation area from Clark County Regional Emergency Services Agency)

“I’m not even sure what even happened with Level 1,” Hansen said. “We just kind of skipped right past that into Level 2.”

Normally, a second-level advisory would not necessarily mean residents have to leave. But Hansen said because of all the coordination needed with multiple dogs, contacting multiple owners, and arranging a mode of transport for the animals, she had already planned to go as soon as any Level 2 was issued.

The decision was nearly prescient, as fire officials later said they had trouble accurately judging the size of the fire due to a heavy amount of smoke clouding the perimeter.

“Within about half an hour of knowing that we were on Level 2, we got emergency notifications that we were on Level 3,” she said.

Hansen called on a friend, who she had jokingly contacted earlier in the day about an old agreement to house the dogs if an emergency broke out. They agreed to shelter the dogs in a garage and backyard, she said.

While her husband ran inside to gather the family’s valuables and vital documents, she readied the pups and put them on a mode of transport to her friend’s house, about an hour’s drive away.

“I think it would have been complete panic and chaos if there wasn’t a plan in place,” Hansen said, expressing relief that she had prepared for a moment like this after having previously dealt with the Eagle Creek Fire.

This, however, was the first time she said her family has had to evacuate from a wildfire.

Hansen told Xվ Newsradio the fire never reached her home and the evacuation orders were shocking because they were issued before any danger was evident.

“It was wild, too, because we were evacuating and there was no smoke in our house,” she said.

By Monday morning, evacuations for her property were lifted and she returned home with hesitation. Hansen said she was still on edge that the situation could escalate again, just as fast as it did Sunday.

“I wasn’t too quick to run back,” she said. “Because I just wanted to make sure – I don’t want to have to transport these dogs back and then have to turn around and come back.”

Some of the dogs have been picked up by their owners, while others were out of the country, she said. Everyone – two legs or four – is safe, but Hansen was surprised at how quickly the situation changed.

“You just have to think of every scenario that you possibly can think of,” she said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire is still burning just north several miles north of Camas at about 1,800 acres. It is 5% contained, and thousands are still under evacuation orders.

Follow Sam Campbell on or email her here.

MyNorthwest News

electricity demand...

MyNorthwest Staff

Electricity demand for WA, surrounding areas could double by 2046, experts say

The Pacific Northwest's demand for electricity could double over the next two decades, according to an energy forecast from regional experts.

12 minutes ago

pierce county teenage son...

Frank Sumrall

Teenage son arrested after stabbing mother’s boyfriend to death in Pierce County

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide after a teenage son allegedly stabbed and killed his mother's boyfriend.

3 hours ago

wealth tax...

Frank Sumrall

Progressive group’s study debunks myth that ‘wealth tax’ drives rich residents out of WA

One progressive think tank is combating the belief that, if a wealth tax is established in budget plans aimed at closing a $16 billion shortfall, the wealthiest Washingtonians still wouldn't leave the state in droves in response.

4 hours ago

Cascade Valley Hospital lockdown...

Xվ 7 News Staff

Cascade Valley Hospital forced into lockdown three times in a week for ‘unconfirmed threats’

Skagit Regional Health says they have enlisted the help of the FBI and local police after at least three different threats put Cascade Valley Hospital on lockdown over the last three days.

5 hours ago

dogs Auburn...

Samantha Lomibao, Xվ 7 News

Dogs with swollen muzzles found abandoned near Auburn

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) says three dogs were found under concerning circumstances near Auburn.

6 hours ago

Photo: A new report reveals trends surrounding censorship at the University of Washington and Washi...

Julia Dallas

Teen with Google PhD-level job sues UW, other schools for alleged racial bias in admissions

A 19-year-old with a Google job claims UW and others discriminated in admissions based on race.

6 hours ago

‘It was wild’: Dog-boarding business on rapid Nakia Creek Fire evacuation