By Peter Segall
Peninsula Daily News
A brush fire that caused Fourth of July celebrations in Forks to be canceled was fully contained Wednesday, after burning 39 acres and one home. “The good news is the fire is 100 percent lined,” said Janet Pearce, public information officer for the Department of Natural Resources, about the fire near the end of Bogachiel Way in Forks.
“People will still see smoke as crews are beginning to mop up and get those hot spots put out, but progression towards any communities has stopped.”
The cause of the fire remained under investigation early Wednesday, Pearce said.
The Forks fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday near the end of Bogachiel Way in the southeastern part of the city. By 6:30 p.m., Forks had canceled its holiday fireworks show and demolition derby and consumer fireworks were banned.
An indefinite burn ban was also enacted for the City of Forks on Tuesday, prohibiting most types of outdoor fires but excluding propane and charcoal grills.
About 35 homes were evacuated, but by Wednesday morning, residents were being allowed back to their homes although Bogachiel Way was still closed to regular traffic.
In addition to the one home that was destroyed, about three outbuildings also burned, according to Forks City Attorney Rod Fleck. Firefighters from Beaver and Forks were assisting in operations and a temporary shelter was set up with help from the American Red Cross in the gym of Forks High School.
No injuries were reported. “The response by the Forks community was amazing as they always are,” Fleck said. “Pacific Pizza donated pizza to the crews, they’re getting lunch donated by different folks, probably looking at making sure they’re well fed through Sunday.”
Fleck said he expected mop-up operations to continue through the weekend.
Clallam County Public Utility District (PUD) shut off power to the area and in a press release Wednesday said three utility poles would have to be replaced but crews had not yet received authorization to start repairs.
PUD spokesperson Nicole Hartman said the shutoff affected only four customers and that the utility hoped to get authorization late Wednesday or Thursday.
Clallam County commissioners took a break from the holiday festivities Tuesday to issue an emergency declaration for the Forks fire, authorizing the county emergency management director to use emergency powers in the firefighting effort.
Peninsula Communications — Clallam County’s emergency dispatch center — posted on social media Tuesday the 9-1-1 center was receiving numerous fire complaints across the county.
Clallam County Fire District 2 said on social media they responded to 19 separate incidents within 24 hours beginning on the Fourth of July, including two brush fires believed to have been started by fireworks. District 2 firefighters also assisted with the fire in Forks.
Both Clallam and Jefferson County enacted burn restrictions earlier than expected this year, and Jefferson County banned the sale and use of consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas on Friday. Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles have bans on consumer fireworks.
East Jefferson Fire Rescue Chief Bret Black said Wednesday morning no fires or injuries related to fireworks were reported within the last 24 hours, but he noted there had been a number of fire incidents within the past week.
The National Weather Service reported dry and warm conditions continued across Western Washington as high pressure remains over the region, maintaining heightened fire weather concerns. Haze from regional fires will continue to impact the region until fires are extinguished.
Several fires are ongoing in Washington and on the Olympic Peninsula, including a fire north in Mason County north of Shelton that had burned more than 250 acres and prompted evacuation notices by Wednesday.
