News Release

Olympic National Park Fire Update - September 24

Date: September 24, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. – The fire area did not receive the predicted rainfall totals on Sunday. The Delabarre, Low Divide, and Martins Lake fires showed minimal growth, while the other fires showed no signs of growth. All crews were extracted from the fire area to reduce the risk of accidents in steep, remote terrain with the coming weather system.

Weather forecasts for the next 48 hours predict increased precipitation over the fire area with 2-4 inches of rainfall and thunderstorms expected. However, warmer temperatures and drier conditions may return by the end of this coming week.
 

Fire Name	Initial Report	Estimated Size as of 9/24	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	340 acres	2 miles SW of Low Divide
Delabarre	9/1/23	4165 acres	3 miles SE of Mount Christie
Martins Lake	9/2/23	122 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

The fire area did not receive rainfall on Sunday. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to increase Monday and Tuesday. Forecasters anticipate rainfall accumulations to range from 2 to 4 inches. Thunderstorms may form over the fire area in the first half of this 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