Another sad day in town
#2
10-30-2012, 03:21 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
This sucks! As if it weren't bad enough that a bunch of businesses were closed over the last 10 years, but this just adds to it.
An early morning fire has destroyed wood-framed buildings located along North Forks Avenue including the Dazzled by Twilight/Fern Gallery and Rainforest Arts Center/IOOF Building heading north to the historic Forks log, which firefighters are fighting to save. Watch for updates on the Forks Fire 2012 throughout the day.
Clallam County Fire District 1 Chief Phil Arbeiter said the fire started in the 3-story Rainforest Arts Center that housed a theater group and Hispanic grocery store. He said no one was in the buildings when the fire was reported at about 4 a.m. Monday, and that no one was hurt.
Here firefighters (top photo) from the Forks and Beaver fire departments (Fire District #1) fight the fire at about 4:30 a.m. Monday morning, Oct. 29 at the junction of Forks Ave and East Division Street where the Rainforest Arts Center - historic circa 1924 International Order of Odd Fellows Hall and Dazzled by Twilight buildings were destroyed.
Public schools in Forks are closed today due to the smoke from the fire, Qullayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume announced at 5:30 a.m.. Power along main transmission lines along Forks Ave. has been knocked out by fires, however power is reported on along back streets.
This is what it looked like recently
In this photo you can see the green arrows point to all that was lost, and then the red arrow points to where my wife works.
Here is an old photo
An early morning fire has destroyed wood-framed buildings located along North Forks Avenue including the Dazzled by Twilight/Fern Gallery and Rainforest Arts Center/IOOF Building heading north to the historic Forks log, which firefighters are fighting to save. Watch for updates on the Forks Fire 2012 throughout the day.
Clallam County Fire District 1 Chief Phil Arbeiter said the fire started in the 3-story Rainforest Arts Center that housed a theater group and Hispanic grocery store. He said no one was in the buildings when the fire was reported at about 4 a.m. Monday, and that no one was hurt.
Here firefighters (top photo) from the Forks and Beaver fire departments (Fire District #1) fight the fire at about 4:30 a.m. Monday morning, Oct. 29 at the junction of Forks Ave and East Division Street where the Rainforest Arts Center - historic circa 1924 International Order of Odd Fellows Hall and Dazzled by Twilight buildings were destroyed.
Public schools in Forks are closed today due to the smoke from the fire, Qullayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume announced at 5:30 a.m.. Power along main transmission lines along Forks Ave. has been knocked out by fires, however power is reported on along back streets.
This is what it looked like recently
In this photo you can see the green arrows point to all that was lost, and then the red arrow points to where my wife works.
Here is an old photo
#3
10-30-2012, 03:25 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
In case anyone is interested in history.....
HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
#4
10-30-2012, 04:52 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
It's funny what you don't know about where have lived all your life. I remember the story but didn't really know the details.
On September 20, 1951, a forest fire burns 33,000 acres and 32 buildings in Forks, on the Olympic Peninsula, as well as several lumber mills in the area. More than 1,000 residents evacuate as 500 firefighters manage to keep the flames from the rest of town.
The summer of 1951 was exceptionally dry. Hydroelectric utilities curtailed service to industrial users because of low water behind dams. In September, many seasonal firefighters returned to school, leaving crews short handed. A fire thought to have been extinguished sprang to life 19 miles northeast of Forks. East winds drove the flames towards town. Refugees were sheltered at the Naval Station at Quilayute and at the Coast Guard Station in Port Angeles.
The occurrence of a large, destructive fire in that area was unusual because the annual rainfall in Forks was 115 inches.
On September 20, 1951, a forest fire burns 33,000 acres and 32 buildings in Forks, on the Olympic Peninsula, as well as several lumber mills in the area. More than 1,000 residents evacuate as 500 firefighters manage to keep the flames from the rest of town.
The summer of 1951 was exceptionally dry. Hydroelectric utilities curtailed service to industrial users because of low water behind dams. In September, many seasonal firefighters returned to school, leaving crews short handed. A fire thought to have been extinguished sprang to life 19 miles northeast of Forks. East winds drove the flames towards town. Refugees were sheltered at the Naval Station at Quilayute and at the Coast Guard Station in Port Angeles.
The occurrence of a large, destructive fire in that area was unusual because the annual rainfall in Forks was 115 inches.
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