Protection Island fire fills bay with smoke; cause of blaze unknown

By Zach Jablonski • August 3, 2021 2:55 pm

A fire on Protection Island spewed smoke into the Discovery Bay and Cape George area on Tuesday.

The blaze encompassed about 10 acres of tall grass on the 390-acre island and was slowly growing as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, said Janet Pearce, communications manager for the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

A Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched from Port Angeles to investigate the fire and officials from the Department of Natural Resources responded, said a spokesperson with the Coast Guard 13th District Public Affairs early this afternoon.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

One person lives on the island, but that resident was not there on Tuesday and no other people were expected to be in danger at this time, the Coast Guard spokesperson said.

The fire was discovered by whale watchers who noticed smoke coming from Protection Island on Tuesday morning, and officials started to arrive at the island by 2 p.m., Pearce said.

A DNR helicopter and a U.S. Forest Service engine crew and firefighters were working to contain the blaze at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Authorities at that time had no estimated time of when the fire would be contained, Pearce said.

Officials are asking anyone who saw a suspicious person or boats in the area to contact investigators at 425-783-6150, according to a social media post by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.