News Release

Olympic National Park Fire Update - September 21

Date: September 21, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. – Warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity contributed to a modest increase in fire behavior on Thursday. The same trend is expected for the fire area on Friday.    

Fire crews moved into areas north of the Delabarre fire to monitor and protect historic cabins, trail improvements and park infrastructure. Fire activity may increase on Friday as the warm dry air mass continues over the fire area. Fire managers are shifting resources around the fires as needed to meet management goals. 
 

Fire Name	Initial Report	Estimated Size as of 9/21	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	315 acres	2 miles SW of Low Divide
Delabarre	9/1/23	3800 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 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 

Fire activity may increase tomorrow due to warm temperatures, atmospheric instability, and low relative humidity values. Rain is expected to return Saturday morning and continue through the weekend. 
 

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 

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