Single Publication

Port Angeles, Wash. – The fire area received some light precipitation on Saturday, allowing crews to continue fuel reduction around the structures near the Delabarre fire. Crews continued to monitor the Eagle Point Fire.

Forecasted weather over the fire area is expected to see increased rainfall Sunday and early next week with possible precipitation of several inches. All fires are being closely monitored. 

Fire Name

Initial Report

Estimated Size 

Location

Hurricane

8/28/23

4 acres

2,000 ft below Hurricane Ridge parking area

Eagle Point

8/28/23

123 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

332 acres

N. Fork Quinault drainage

Delabarre

9/1/23

 4,088 acres

3 miles SE of Mount Christie

Martins Lake

9/2/23

108 acres

2 miles NE of Mount Christie

Mount Queets

9/14/23

7 acres

Summit of Mount Queets

Fires in the wilderness are a natural part of the forest ecosystem and the benefits of fire will increase favorable habitat for the forest population and will reduce competition for resources for plant and tree growth. Over time, the forest floor gets cluttered with undergrowth and down and dead material making it more difficult for wildlife. It only takes a short time after a fire for the forest to regenerate. 

The seven fires in the Olympic Wilderness are being managed to provide the optimum benefit to the landscape, while protecting the assets within the management area.

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

Light rain fell over the fire area on Saturday and rain is expected to increase over the weekend. Forecasters are anticipating rainfall accumulations to be in the range of 2 to 4 inches. There is a possibility of thunderstorms over the fire area through the first half of next week. 

Information for the 2023 Olympic National Park Lightning Fires can be found at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waolp-2023-olympic-national-park-lightning-fires 

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--