PORT TOWNSEND — Water from the sea was pumped onto a beach fire fueled by driftwood that consumed about 1.7 acres on the east shore of Discovery Bay near Aldrich Road.
The fire, reported at 1:209 p.m. Friday, was contained and mostly extinguished by 4:20 p.m., said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire Rescue spokesman.
Fire crews stayed until later that night to ensure they had all hot spots quenched, he added.
After Beckett Point residents living about 2 miles northwest of the fire, reported it to emergency dispatchers, steady winds between 15 and 20 mph out of the northwest pushed the fire into a large collection of driftwood at a section of beach about 100 yards wide, Beezley said.
The fire stalled when it hit boggy sections of wood.
“There was no ready access to water,” Beezley said.
The department’s fire boat Guardian pulled out from Port Townsend Boat haven to the beach and a hose line was run from the boat to the shore.
The boat pumped sea water to hand lines that the 25 firefighters used to spray the fire.
Three workers from Discovery Bay Shellfish who were nearby gathering geoducks, stopped their work to also pump water from their boat to fight the fire for several hours, Beezley said.
The cause of the fire was undetermined Friday.
Investigators were focusing on a barbecue grill with partially cooked kabobs found near the origin of the fire.
Drivers were advised to avoid the area of Cape George Road and Aldrich Road during the fire because of firefighting equipment on the roads that would slow traffic.
Assisting East Jefferson Fire Rescue were firefighters from Naval Magazine Indian Island, Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue, Quilcene Fire & Rescue and Jefferson County District 5 (Discovery Bay).
Firefighters from Clallam District 3 staffed local stations to provide support while area firefighters fought the blaze.
