Single Publication

For Immediate Release

Contact: Public Affairs Office, Olympic_PAO@nps.gov, 360-565-3005

Hurricane Fire is 75% contained and remains at 4 acres

Port Angeles, Wash. –  The Hurricane Fire remains at 4 acres and is 75% contained; there was minimal fire activity today. Hoses and sprinklers have been used to prevent the fire from spreading to the west. Hurricane Ridge Road will remain open to the public.

The Eagle Point Fire is burning at 60 acres and poses no threat to life or property. Obstruction Point Road remains closed for the safety of visitors and firefighters. Depending on weather conditions, a smoke plume may be visible from Highway 101 between Sequim and Port Angeles.

The Eagle Point Fire is showing moderate activity with single tree torching and burning trees killed by the balsam wooly adelgid, an exotic pest that is steadily killing off subalpine-fir trees. Firefighters are using bucket drops to prevent the fire from growing north of Obstruction Point Road and over the ridge but will monitor its growth in other directions, taking suppression action if needed to protect identified values.

Martins Lake Fire and Delabarre Fire showed minimal activity today and will continue to be monitored.

The Low Divide Fire grew to 8 acres and is burning west toward Seattle Creek. It is approximately ¼ mile from the Skyline Primitive Trail. A crew will be inserted on Tuesday, September 5 to monitor this fire and ensure there are no public safety concerns.

The Diamond Mountain Fire is burning in wilderness and poses no threats to structures or property. The fire hit rocks to the northeast and is burning slowly downhill to the south and west. It will continue to be monitored.

Hurricane 

Initial Report - 8/28/23

Estimated Size - 4 acres

Location - 2,000 ft below Hurricane Ridge parking area

Eagle Point 

Initial Report - 8/28/23

Estimated Size - 60 acres

Location - Obstruction Point area

Diamond Mountain  

Initial Report - 9/1/23

Estimated Size - 25 acres

Location - 3.3 miles NE of Anderson Pass

Low Divide 

Initial Report - 9/1/23

Estimated Size - 8 acres

Location - N. Fork Quinault drainage

Delebarre 

Initial Report - 9/1/23

Estimated Size - 1 acres

Location - 3 miles SE of Mount Christie

Martins Lake

Initial Report - 9/2/23

Estimated Size - <1 acres

Location - 2 miles NE of Mount Christie

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.

Olympic National Forest Fires

A full suppression response is also underway for the Tunnel Creek Fire that resulted from lightning east of the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Olympic National Forest earlier this week. Estimated at 2 acres, the fire is smoldering on steep slopes. Rappelers, a helicopter, and a dozer are currently engaged with additional resources en route. Firefighters are working to create handline around the perimeter of the fire. Visitors are asked to avoid the area for public and firefighter safety. For additional information contact the Olympic National Forest Supervisor’s Office at (360) 956-2402.

Background Information

All six active fires in Olympic National Park ignited when a series of lightning strikes occurred on the Olympic Peninsula.

On August 18, Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest implemented a fire ban including charcoal fires. The move to Stage 2 fire restrictions is due to continued hot and dry conditions that are forecasted to continue at least through the end of October as dry conditions in the region persist.  

Closures  

Obstruction Point Road and the trailhead will be closed until further notice. Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WIC) will be notifying backcountry permit holders who may be impacted by this closure. Any permit holders who plan to backpack via the Obstruction Point Trailhead should contact the WIC at 360-565-3100 or https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wic.htm.   

Weather and Fire Behavior

Sunday had cooler and wetter weather arrive by the afternoon. Temperatures were around 51 degrees. West southwest winds around 8 mph. Monday and Tuesday call for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the 50s. Winds remain between 5 and 10 mph.

Depending on weather conditions, a smoke plume is visible from Highway 101 between Sequim and Port Angeles, as well as the Hurricane Ridge area.

Information for the Hurricane Fire can be found at: Hurricane Fire Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov)

National Interagency Fire Center: https://www.nifc.gov
 Olympic National Park information: www.nps.gov/olym 
Olympic National Forest information: www.fs.usda.gov/olympic
 State and county area burn bans: www.waburnbans.net   

 --NPS--