Wind-Fueled Fire Destroys Towne Point Home, Displaces Residents

PORT TOWNSEND, WA — On the evening of Tuesday, July 7, 2026, a structure fire broke out in the Towne Point neighborhood of Port Townsend, leaving a home on Queen Anne Place heavily damaged and its residents displaced. East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) received the first calls at approximately 5:02 p.m., with multiple callers alerting dispatchers to the flames and smoke emanating from the rear of the property.

Fire Chief Bret Black described the initial moments of the emergency, noting that law enforcement arrived before fire crews, a common occurrence given their mobile nature. “The storage shed was fully involved, and the rear of the house, that’s now gone, was also involved in fire. Then [the] fire was spreading to an adjacent house on another property,” Black explained in an interview at the scene. He added that neighbors quickly confirmed that the homeowners were not present. This was later verified when authorities learned both residents were at work.

When the first engines arrived, firefighters launched an immediate offensive attack, laying supply lines and working aggressively to contain the flames. Their swift action prevented the fire from destroying the neighboring house, though it did sustain heat damage. “We were able to stop the fire that was an exposure of the adjacent structure, but we still have crews inside there, just with our thermal imagers, making sure there’s no hot spots we don’t know about,” Black said. The primary residence, however, fared far worse—roughly two-thirds of the home was consumed, and Black described it as a total loss.

Throughout the operation, firefighters contended with a formidable westerly wind that continually shifted direction, complicating their efforts. “The wind is really a challenge right now. Yes, it keeps changing direction, which makes it worse because we can't predict which way the embers are going to blow,” Black stated. “Our number one job right now is to keep our firefighters safe, keep any surprise embers from landing somewhere we don't know about. That’s our game plan.” He also highlighted the critical role of the Jefferson County PUD, which worked alongside crews to secure power to affected homes, calling them “a great partner” in the response.

Additional support came from Navy Region Northwest and Clallam County Fire District #3, helping to ensure the blaze did not extend to other structures in the densely built neighborhood. Despite the intensity of the fire, the outcome was remarkably free of tragedy. Black confirmed there were no civilian injuries or fatalities, and all firefighters emerged unharmed. The fire was officially declared out, and EJFR cleared the scene around 10:00 p.m. that night.

The following day, East Jefferson Fire Rescue issued a statement noting that the residents have been displaced due to the significant structural damage, and that the cause of the fire remains under active investigation by their team. 

When asked what he would like the community to take away from the incident, Black offered a series of urgent preparedness reminders. He urged residents to keep defensible space maintained around their homes, noting that fires can happen at any time, not just during wildfire season. 

He also encouraged families to have a clear emergency plan, prepare a go bag to take when leaving home and become familiar with the READY, SET, GO evacuation program—a framework designed to help residents make timely decisions in the face of danger. 

For more detailed information, he directed readers to Jefferson County’s official preparedness and planning webpages.