The state Depaartment of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of a fire near Lake Sutherlind. The blaze has been extinguished. (Clallam County Fire District No. 2)

The state Depaartment of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of a fire near Lake Sutherlind. The blaze has been extinguished. (Clallam County Fire District No. 2)

2-acre blaze contained near Lake Sutherland

Heavy smoke may remain in area for ‘significant’ period

LAKE SUTHERLAND — State firefighters Tuesday mopped up a 2-acre wildfire that burned in forest slash north of U.S. Highway 101 near Lake Sutherland on Monday.

The state Department of Natural Resources and Clallam County fire districts 2 and 4 contained the fire on Monday afternoon.

DNR was investigating the cause.

“They have released our water tender,” Clallam County Fire District 2 Chief Jake Patterson said Tuesday afternoon.

“It sounds like it’s out and extinguished.”

No injuries were reported, and no structures were lost in the fire along Joyce Access Road about a half-mile north of the highway near Granny’s Cafe, Patterson said.

The fire began in an old clearcut in downed branches and twigs.

“It’s pretty dry,” Patterson said of the ground conditions.

The fire was widely reported to Peninsula Communications dispatch at about 3 p.m. Monday. PenCom posted an advisory on social media urging people to avoid the area and to refrain from calling 9-1-1 to report smoke coming from the hills above Lake Sutherland.

Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue and Clallam County Fire District 4 of Joyce each sent personnel and equipment to battle the blaze.

DNR crews dug a fire line, and a hose line was placed around the perimeter, Patterson said.

A District 2 water tender remained on site Tuesday to help mop up the fire.

Winds were a concern before the fire was contained Monday, Patterson said.

The National Weather Service reported gusts of 16 mph in Indian Valley on Monday afternoon.

“We did have some spot fires that jumped over our hose lines, and we had to chase those,” Patterson said late Monday.

Fire District 2 responded with two water tenders, one structural fire engine, two wildland fire engines, two command vehicles and 14 personnel, Patterson said.

Clallam County Fire District 4 sent one engine, two tenders, a command vehicle, an ambulance and 13 personnel, Chief Greg Waters said.

Earlier Monday, Fire District 4 crews extinguished a 20-foot by 20-foot brush fire off Joyce Access Road about 4½ miles off U.S. Highway 112 near Joyce.

Waters said that fire was likely caused by fireworks.

“It was grass that caught on fire,” Waters said Tuesday.

“We got there and put it out pretty quickly, and then the DNR crew followed up on that one.

“I don’t think they were on that one very long,” Waters added.

“The second one (near Lake Sutherland) was substantially bigger.”

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Man barricaded with rifle arrested

Suspect had fired shots in direction of deputies, sheriff says

An interior view of the 12-passenger, all-electric hydrofoil ferry before it made a demonstration run on Port Townsend Bay on Saturday. Standing in the aisle is David Tyler, the co-founder and managing director of Artemis Technologies, the designer and builder of the carbon fiber boat. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstration provides glimpse of potential for ferry service

Battery-powered hydrofoil could open water travel

Electronic edition of newspaper set for Thursday holiday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition only… Continue reading

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her mother, Rachel Shidler of Port Angeles, during Saturday’s Summertide celebration in Webster’s Woods sculpture park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. The event, which marks the beginning of the summer season, featured food, music, crafts and other activities for youths and adults. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summertide festival

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her… Continue reading

Law enforcement agencies to participate in Torch Run

Clallam County law enforcement agencies will participate in the… Continue reading

Crews contain wildland fire near Fisher Cove Road

Crews from Clallam County Fire District 2 quickly contained… Continue reading

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn by fellow senior Hayden Horn on Saturday. Gales had a handmade Native American cap ready for her graduation. Seventeen Crescent students graduated during traditional ceremonies in the school gym. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Crescent graduation

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn… Continue reading

Pertussis cases see 25-fold increase statewide in 2024

The state Department of Health reported an increase in pertussis… Continue reading

Frank Lowenstein was hired as the Dungeness River Nature Center’s executive director in September 2024. (Frank Lowenstein)
River center director dismissed

Board is looking for candidate to fill role

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of the Clallam County Courthouse on Saturday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstrators march at courthouse

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast, communicate with their friends by text while waiting for the start of the 2025 graduation parade on Friday. The parade began at Ediz Hook and culminated with a formal ceremony Friday evening at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Graduation parade

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast,… Continue reading