News Release

Olympic National Park Fire Update- September 17

Date: September 17, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. – Fire activity was lower today due to overcast skies and higher humidities. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted allowing for updated acreage of all park fires; the Delabarre Fire is approximately 1,500 acres, however, low visibility and low-lying smoke made it difficult for fire personnel to identify the exact perimeter of the fire. A flight tomorrow with infrared mapping technology will provide a more accurate estimate of the fire’s size.  

Fire personnel continued to work in the Low Divide area; firefighters have created a defensible space around the Glacier Creek Bridge and installed sprinklers to help protect the bridge and the Low Divide Ranger Station. The Low Divide Fire continues to burn but it has not yet crossed the North Fork Quinault River.  

The Eagle Point Fire is in a confine and contain strategy and was mostly inactive today.  

Smoke conditions improved across the north Olympic Peninsula as quieter fire conditions generated less smoke.  

Acreage for other fires remained the same:  
 

Fire Name	Initial Report	Estimated Size as of 9/17	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	274 acres	2 miles SW of Low Divide
Delabarre	9/1/23	~1,500 acres	3 miles SE of Mount Christie
Martins Lake	9/2/23	93 acres	2 miles NE of Mount Christie
Mount Queets	9/14/23	4 acres	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. By allowing fires to burn when appropriate, it allows the natural process to continue to occur and it lowers the fire danger in the future. Naturally occurring fires allow forests to be thinned, opening the canopy and allowing sunlight through. Fire also allows for the recycling of nutrients to the soil while reducing the amount of dead, woody debris. This allows for the sprouting and regrowth of plants, shrubs and trees. 

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 Whiskey Bend Trailhead to Low Divide 

• Bailey Range Traverse beyond Cat Basin  

• Long Ridge Trail to Dodger Point 

• 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 e-mail us. 

Weather and Fire Behavior 

A front will weaken over the area Sunday night for a chance of rain showers. Relative humidity values will increase with the front due to onshore flow into Monday. Winds will shift more north-northwesterly Monday morning and continue through the day. 
 

Information for the Olympic National Park Lightning Fires can be found at: 2023 Olympic National Park Lightning Fires Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov) 
 

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--