By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

At 12:30 a.m. Monday a series of calls came into the East Pierce Fire and Rescue dispatch center concerning a fire in the area of 166th Avenue East.

A home being built below state Route 410 near Sumner's water tower was on fire and people driving on the highway could see the flames. Dispatch received numerous calls from drivers.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the home completely engulfed in flames.

“It had fire coming out of every window,” East Pierce Assistant Chief Dave Wakefield said.

The home was part of a new development in the area and firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to a nearby home.

East Pierce reported there were no injuries.

According to workers at the site, they were scheduled to install drywall at the two-story home this week. The nearly 3,000-square foot house has been declared a total loss. The price for the home was $575,000.

Fire marshals from Pierce County and East Pierce Fire and Rescue are investigating and the blaze is being called “a suspicious fire.”

The house is part of an upscale development of large homes with views of the valley below. Approximately a dozen houses are currently under construction. None were occupied at the time of the fire.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.