Community Police & Fire
Wildfire burning on Olympic Peninsula, but air quality is still OK here
Air quality remains good in the Gig Harbor area, but that could change quickly with a 150-acre wildfire burning on the Olympic Peninsula.
A fire near Brinnon in Jefferson County started at about 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14. A statement from the state Fire Marshal’s Office distributed around 3 p.m. Thursday said the fire is burning on an estimated 150 acres and still growing.
The office is investigating the cause of the fire, which is burning in slash and timber in the Mt. Jupiter area.
Fire mobilization for the #2620Fire near Brinnon has been approved to provide more fire assets. Now, at 150 acres with 50 homes threatened.
Evacuation Alerts are in place. Brinnon Fire Dept posting on FB here: https://t.co/PoUPTx42mb
Our state EOC is monitoring. #wawildfire https://t.co/eQ3dbT7S5L
— WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) August 15, 2024
Late Wednesday, social media commenters reported seeing flames from Seattle, Tacoma and other points in Western Washington.
The state mobilized additional resources Thursday afternoon to help fight the blaze, which was dubbed the 2620 Fire after a nearby forest service road. A Tweet from the Washington Emergency Management Department said the fire threatens about 50 homes.
The Brinnon Fire Department issued a Level 1 alert for the Duckabush area, warning of the possible need for evacuation. Some addresses are under a Level 2 alert, or “be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.”
Firefighters from Brinnon, Quilcene Fire and Rescue and the state Department of Natural Resources are battling the blaze.
The Washington Department of Ecology continues to classify air quality in Western Washington as “good.” Monitor air quality at Ecology’s online map and via the Washington Smoke Blog. Another handy tool is this National Wildfire Coordinating Group map of fires.
The 2620 Fire is burning on Mount Jupiter near Brinnon. Image taken from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s map of wildfires.