OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Firefighters have held the East Beach Road fire to 84 acres while increasing containment to 83 percent, the Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team overseeing the operations said.
Only 39 firefighters were at the blaze just north of East Beach Road near Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park on Friday, the team reported Friday.
The blaze is well-enough contained that daily reports probably will no longer be issued, the report said, although fire officials will continue to monitor fire behavior and provide updates as needed if the situation changes.
The fire was reported July 29. It is suspected to be human caused. An investigation is underway.
Recent rain brought 0.2 inches of precipitation to the fire area, but the minimal rainfall did not extinguish the fire, which is expected to smolder and creep through thick forest until heavy rainfall in the fall, the team said.
Some areas of the steep hazardous terrain are inaccessible for fire personnel, so occasional smoke at Lake Crescent and the surrounding area will most likely continue as well possible visible flames at night until the fire is extinguished.
East Beach Road remains closed to visitor traffic at its intersection with U.S. Highway 101.
Log Cabin Resort is still operating and can be accessed via state Highway 112 to Joyce-Piedmont Road.
All day-use recreation sites along East Beach Road in Olympic National Park remain closed.
Local residents can access property up to 2 miles west of U.S. Highway 101 or from Log Cabin Resort up to the hard closure.
