Large fire burns Lakewood events center Monday. Traffic on major thoroughfare affected

Firefighters battled heavy fire at a Lakewood events center building just before midnight Sunday.

Fire crews were dispatched to the 11500 block of Bridgeport Way Southwest. Heavy smoke and fire was coming out of the events center, according to West Pierce Fire and Rescue on X.

“Firefighters started with an offensive attack, but due to safety concerns and heavy fire conditions, they evacuated the building and moved to a defensive strategy,” WPFR wrote.

There was no one inside the building at the time of the fire. No one was injured. A Pierce Transit bus provided temporary shelter to residents of a nearby apartment complex due to concerns of smoke, the account said.

Bridgeport Way was closed from Pacific Highway to 112th for much of the morning. Monday morning commuters were forced to find alternate routes, Lakewood Police Department said on X.

The fire is under investigation, WPFR said.