By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The sixth day of firefighting at an active logging site outside of Pe Ell began with the Fork Peak Fire at 70 percent containment.
The forest fire has spread over 120 acres since it was discovered, about five miles southwest of Pe Ell. It’s burned recently harvested timber, slash and mature timber on property owned by Rayonier.
[1]Fork Peak Fire / DNR
It’s smoldering now, with low spread potential, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Smoke may still be visible from Pe Ell and adjacent communities, DNR reported this morning.
A crew supervisor was injured over the weekend while working on the fire and airlifted to Providence Centralia Hospital, but released by that evening, according to DNR spokesperson Janet Pearce.
Two hundred-twenty-one personnel are actively fighting the fire, according to Pearce.
Authorities continue to advise the public avoid to Elk Prairie Road, A-Line and Forks Creek Road near the fire area to help firefighters in minimizing any potential hazards. They originally mis-stated the name of Elk Prairie Road as Elks Creek Road.
Their work is supported by nine fire engines, eight water tenders, two bull dozers and one helicopter, Pearce states in this morning’s report.
No structures are threatened.
The fire in Pacific County, near the Lewis County line, is under the command of DNR’s Pacific Cascade Region.
The fire was reported at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday. Its cause is under investigation.
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For background, see ” ‘Really big’ wildfire spreading southwest of Pe Ell” from Friday Sept. 12, 2014 at 9:15 p.m., here [2]