News Release

Olympic National Park Fire Update - September 23

Date: September 23, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

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 as of 9/20	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	2 miles SW of Low Divide
Delabarre	9/1/23	4088 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 ecosystems on the Olympic Peninsula; these plants and animals have evolved with fire for thousands of years. Fire can increase favorable habitat for the wildlife. When appropriate, allowing this natural process to continue lowers the risk of catastrophic fires in the future. Naturally occurring fires thin forests, open the canopy, and reduce competition for resources for plant and tree growth. Fire returns nutrients to the soil while reducing the amount of dead, woody debris. It only takes a short time after a fire for the forest to regenerate.

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 

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 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