On Thursday, July 14th, 2022, Firefighters from East Grays Harbor Fire and Rescue, McCleary Fire Department and Oakville’s Grays Harbor Fire District 1 responded to reports of a residential structure fire in the 100 block of South Bank Rd in Elma, to find the home fully engulfed. The residents of the home and their pets were able to safely escape without injury.

East Grays Harbor Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the scene just before 11:30 a.m., Chief Adam Fulbright was first on the scene and advised the home was fully involved with extension to nearby trees and vegetation. He also saw that the resident was outside the home in the yard. The homeowner stated that the fire initially started in the bathroom and quickly spread to the rest of the residence. 

Firefighters took a defensive stance and kept the fire from spreading further to nearby trees and vegetation. The fire was knocked down around 2:00 p.m. after approximately 25,000 gallons of water. The home on the property was a total loss; an unattached outbuilding had smoke damage but was saved from major damage. Crews remained on scene for several hours to confirm there were no hot spots and ensure the fire was completely out. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 5:15 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.