PORT ANGELES — The Lake Sutherland fire west of Port Angeles was determined to be 41 percent contained by Thursday with containment lines almost entirely surrounding the fire area, according to the Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team, the interagency group which assumed command of firefighting operations on Monday.
The fire —which is located off U.S. Highway 101 near the Joyce Access Road — began on Saturday and burned 108 acres before crews were able to stop its spread.
“Fire behavior has been minimal during the day and overnight with the fire slowly creeping and smoldering within the perimeter,” the management team said in a press release issued Thursday morning. Updates have not been available at the end of the day.
“Some interior light burning and smoldering continues due to the size of the stumps and other debris,” the update said.
Aircraft are no longer being used to combat the fire, but a temporary flight restriction remains in place over the area.
There are no road or trail closures, but officials have asked that travelers exercise increased caution in the area and not stop along the road to watch operations or take pictures. Crews and firefighters are working in the area — near Granny’s Cafe restaurant on Highway 101 — and drivers are asked to reduce speed and be cautious.
The fire is located on state Department of Natural Resources land and the agency is investigating the cause of the fire.
Officials have noted the fire is early in the state’s wildfire season and asked that homeowners near forested areas take steps to protect their homes from fire danger. Four homes were previously under an elevated evacuation advisory, but that was downgraded to the lowest level earlier this week.
Both Clallam and Jefferson counties have enacted burn restrictions earlier than expected this year, citing dry conditions. Recreational fires are still allowed but are limited to 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsula dailynews.com.
