QUILCENE — A prescribed burn that blazed out of control near state Highway 104 has been contained by the state Department of Natural Resources.
DNR has been running burns in Jefferson County since last week, but one near Center Road and Highway 104 between Chimacum and Quilcene burned out of control Sunday, prompting responses from DNR and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue fire crews.
According to Quilcene Fire Rescue Chief Larry Karp the fire burned about 80 acres but is now under control.
DNR crews used bulldozers to create a containment line around the blaze and DNR crews were still on the scene Monday afternoon to monitor the fire.
The blaze was sparked from a burn pile, which was investigated by the Discovery Bay volunteer fire department Friday after a number of smoke complaints.
Karp said that crew noted that the pile was larger than anticipated but was nothing to worry about.
On Sunday night, winds picked up and EJFR crews were called out to assist on the blaze, which was then only burning roughly 15 acres.
As of Monday, all EJFR crews had left the scene and the DNR had brought in a 30-man inmate fire crew to help with clean up, according to Karp.
No one was injured by the fire and no structures were damaged, however one or two private properties might have been singed, according to Karp.
DNR will continue to monitor the fire and Karp warned residents of Quilcene to expect smoke in the area for the next day or so because the fire is still burning.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
