BRINNON — A heavy-brush fire near milepost 6.5 of Dosewallips Road, which burned about 3 acres and triggered a Level 1 Get Ready evacuation alert, is now under control.
“The fire is controlled but not yet extinguished,” Brinnon Fire Chief Tim Manly wrote in an email Tuesday afternoon. “Containment has been lowered to zero until the new lines meet required specifications. We still have a Level 1 evacuation in place and expect that to remain for the next few days.”
At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Manly signed a Brinnon Fire Department Facebook post said that the containment levels had been reduced from 50 percent.
The Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management sent out its evacuation alerts via text message and email at 3:31 p.m. on Monday for residents above mile marker 6.
“Right now, there’s no immediate threat to occupied homes,” Manly wrote.
In the area of the fire, there are four unoccupied lots and one unoccupied cabin, Manly added.
“The potential for them being threatened exists, but for now, they’re fine,” he wrote.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service had about 60 firefighters on scene and had ordered two more engines to assist, Manly said.
“Helicopters are available if needed,” Manly wrote.
A Monday Facebook update noted that an air asset had been on the scene but was released.
On Tuesday, Dosewallips Road remained closed to the public, with only residents allowed through. The Facebook post cautioned that the narrow dirt roads could be easily blocked by vehicles with individuals trying to view the fire.
“There are about 20 vehicles belonging to hikers parked at the trailhead,” Manly wrote. “As hikers return from the trail, they’re being allowed through so they can leave safely.”
The Dosewallips Valley was filled with smoke and is likely to remain so for a few days, Manly wrote.
Manly listed the following agencies as being involved in the response: JeffCom 911, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the state Department of Natural Resources, federal firefighters from the Quilcene Ranger Station, East Jefferson Fire Rescue, Quilcene Fire Rescue, Hoodsport Fire and EMS, Discovery Bay Fire & Rescue, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Jefferson County Fire Marshal’s Office.
“Your teamwork and dedication are deeply appreciated,” he wrote.
Jefferson County Fire Marshal Phil Cecere determined the fire to be human caused. The investigation is ongoing.
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@peninsuladailynews.com.
