Single Publication

(MOCLIPS, Wash.) – The Margarita Fire started August 2nd at approximately 12:30am on the Quinault reservation, 1.5 miles NE of Moclips. It is mostly burning in a timber sale unit that is a mix of cedar slash and standing trees, surrounded by heavy timber. Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire on August 4th.

Today will be the last day that the Western Washington Incident Management Team is in command of the fire.

Tomorrow morning, the Quinault Fire Department will assume command of the fire and approximately 61 personnel that will remain assigned. Over the past eight days, firefighters have worked hard to meet the standards for returning the fire to local management. They have worked diligently and safely, with no injuries and no lost structures. They have minimized the loss of timber and damage to natural resources in the fire area.

Last night, the Quinault Police Department lowered the evacuation warning for Quinault Village, also known as Moclips Estates, to a Level 1 – Get Ready. Residents should: stay alert for more information; keep emergency supplies and key belongings in a safe place; and plan escape routes, making sure all household members know the plan of action if conditions change.

The fire is currently 61 acres and 100% contained. This means the fire line completed around the fire can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread. An infrared flight detected a substantial reduction in hot spots along the south side of the fire. Crews yesterday installed portable water tanks and a hose lay along the east edge of the fire and began to “backhaul” some hoses and other equipment that are no longer needed. These will be serviced and re-deployed to another incident. Some personnel will continue to demobilize today and tomorrow as fire officials right-size resources relative to fire suppression needs. As of yesterday evening, 97 people, 9 engines, a water tender, a dozer, and two helicopters were working on the Margarita Fire.

The objective today is to continue working toward fully controlling the fire. Meaning, where it is safe to do so, crews will continue to extinguish any hot spots that could pose a threat to fire containment. In the coming weeks, those in the area will continue to see smoke, fire personnel, and equipment. Firefighters will continue work on mop up, suppression repair, and patrolling the fire. Suppression repair is returning the disturbed areas,

including fire lines and staging areas, to as natural a state as is practicable. This minimizes future damages due to erosion. The fire may continue to burn in some interior areas until a “season-ending event” which is rainfall sufficient to fully extinguish the remaining hot spots.

Weather today is forecast to be cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly sunny around noon. The predicted high temperature is 69 degrees. Light west winds are predicted at 8-12 mph in the afternoon.

This will be the last daily update from WWIMT. For Quinault Nation residents, brief informational updates will continue through internal channels for the next several days as Quinault Fire Department continues to suppress the fire. For those elsewhere in the county, please contact Grays Harbor County Emergency Management with any questions at (360) 249-3911.