Single Publication

Port Angeles, Wash. – The fires in Olympic National Park fire have increased in size and complexity over the last 24 hours; fire managers and are ordering additional resources to manage and support firefighters on the ground. A Type 3 incident management organization will be established to manage these lightning caused fires.

Warm temperatures and low relative humidity levels greatly increased fire activity on the Delabarre Fire. After low fire activity for the last several days, it grew significantly in size. Acreage estimates are between 400 and 500 acres, but a more accurate size will be known tomorrow after infrared mapping flights take place. There continues to remain no threat to critical infrastructure or communities from these fires at this time, but additional trail closures are now in place:

• Elwha River Trail from Elkhorn to Low Divide
• Hayden Pass Trail
• Dosewallips River Trail from Dose Meadows to Hayden Pass
• Dodger Point Way Trail

The Delabarre Fire started from a lightning strike in the Delabarre Creek drainage and burned to the northeast over the ridge and into the Buckinghorse Creek drainage. It continues burning to the northeast.

Increased smoke from fires burning in Olympic National Park was seen throughout the north Olympic Peninsula region. Winds from the south blew smoke from the very active Delabarre Fire into the region early Saturday morning. Ash was seen in the Deer Park and Lost Mountain Road areas.

Fire Name

Initial Report

Estimated Size as of 9/5

Location

Hurricane

8/28/23

4 acres

2,000 ft below Hurricane Ridge parking area

Eagle Point

8/28/23

122 acres

~5 miles out Obstruction Point Road

Diamond Mountain

9/1/23

30 acres

3.3 miles NE of

Anderson Pass

Low Divide

9/1/23

90 acres

N. Fork Quinault drainage

Delabarre

9/1/23

Estimated 400 - 500 acres

3 miles SE of Mount Christie

Martins Lake

9/2/23

31 acres

2 miles NE of Mount Christie

Mount Queets

9/14/23

1 acre

Summit of Mount Queets

Fire is an integral part of the forested ecosystems on the Olympic Peninsula; plants and animals here have evolved with fire for thousands of years. Many factors such as weather, topography, and vegetation influence fire behavior and the effects that fires have on natural resources.

Background Information

All seven active fires in Olympic National Park ignited when a series of lightning strikes occurred on the Olympic Peninsula in the afternoon on August 28.

Closures  

Due to wildfire activity the following closures are in effect until further notice:

• Elwha River Trail from Elkhorn to Low Divide
• Hayden Pass Trail
• Dosewallips River Trail from Dose Meadows to Hayden Pass
• Dodger Point Way Trail
• North Fork Quinault Trail from Elip Creek trail junction to Low Divide
• Skyline Trail from Elip Creek Trail junction to Low Divide
• Martin Park Trail
• Obstruction Point Road and Trailhead

Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WIC) will be notifying backcountry permit holders who may be impacted by these closures. Any permit holders who plan to backpack in the above impacted areas should contact the WIC at 360-565-2992 or by emailing OLYM_WIC@nps.gov.

Weather and Fire Behavior

High pressure aloft will move away from the region today, but the fire sites will still feel its effects with another day of warm and dry conditions. Relative humidity values will remain slightly above critical thresholds, although combined with the poor overnight recoveries lately, the potential for active fire behavior remains high. Onshore flow will increase tonight along with clouds associated with an incoming front. This will not make much of an impact on overnight relative humidity recoveries, but its effects will be felt throughout the day Sunday as well as the potential for showers Sunday night into Monday.

Olympic National Park information: www.nps.gov/olym 
Olympic National Forest information: www.fs.usda.gov/olympic
State and county area burn bans: https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Air-quality/Smoke-fire/Burn-bans

--NPS--