By Pepper Fisher

JEFFERSON COUNTY – The range fire that started yesterday on Protection Island, a wildlife refuge off-limits to visitors near Discovery Bay, has been put out after burning about 22 acres.  But the investigation continues into what is believed to have been a human-caused blaze.

The island is co-owned by the Olympic National Forest and US Fish and Wildlife, and is home to thousands of ground-nesting birds including auklets, gulls and puffins, as well as seals and sea lions.

We spoke with Janet Pearce from the Department of Natural Resources.

“We were able to get it lined with a helicopter, a DNR helicopter assisted the US Forest Service and they’re feeling optimistic that they kept it within the footprint and it should be under control now.”

As for the cause of the fire:

“Well, we don’t know anything. I don’t believe there was lightning out on that island yesterday but, you know, we will find out. Our investigators will look into it and work with Olympic National Forest and the US Forest Service.”

(Photo by Mitch Zenobi)