News Release

Olympic National Park Fire Update- September 18

Date: September 18, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. – Fire activity was moderated by increased cloud cover and higher overnight relative humidity values, which are expected to persist for the coming days. The fires are being managed by a Type 3 incident management organization.  

Thanks to mapping techniques not impacted by smoke, fire crews have determined the Delabarre fire covers approximately 3,500 acres. Delabarre is characterized by multiple spot fires within the rugged terrain of the park’s interior wilderness. The fire spread during last week’s critically dry period. 

Fire crews continue to leverage natural barriers - including mountain ranges, high alpine zones, and rivers - to confine the fires. Helicopter bucket drops were used to limit the spread of the Delabarre fire to the northeast. Crews are using Promise Creek and the North Fork of the Quinault River to limit the Low Divide fire’s spread to the south.  

Daily assessments and fire behavior analyses will continue. A Type 2 helicopter was used for bucket operations today and a Type 1 helicopter was ordered.  
 

Fire Name	Initial Report	Estimated Size as of 9/18	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	312 acres	2 miles SW of Low Divide
Delabarre	9/1/23	3554 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	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. 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 [e-mail]. 
 

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Fire behavior is expected to moderate with a chance of precipitation Tuesday evening. 
 

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