East Beach Road fire remains at 84 acres

Some firefighters pack up and go home

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — The number of firefighters working the East Beach Road Fire at Lake Crescent continues to be trimmed or “right-sized” as fire containment progresses, the Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team overseeing the operations said Wednesday.

The fire remained at 84 acres in size with 65 percent containment Wednesday.

Three hand crews with 84 total personnel bolstered by two engines and two fallers worked Wednesday to extinguish hot spots while cautiously and deliberately identifying snags and hazards within the fire footprint to mitigate potential damage from rolling debris, the management team said.

“This involves identifying trees with compromised root systems, partially burned limbs that could fall or trees that can come down,” said Jared Low, Incident Management Team public information officer.

“Our crews will assess the situation, and fall some trees if they determine it is safe. Or they might find areas where debris could come down, remove it, or at the least flag it or take actions to keep it from rolling.”

A hard closure of East Beach Road has been put in place due to the threat of hazard trees and rolling debris posing dangers to motorists traveling in that area.

Low said there haven’t been any close calls associated with burning debris for East Beach Road residents or for fire crews traveling on the road.

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.

Ongoing smoke is anticipated to remain near Lake Crescent and surrounding areas as the fire continues to smolder within the forest understory.

“There are little pockets or islands in that burn zone that are creeping,” Low said. “A warm dry weather pattern could cause it to puff up a little bit, but we have three crews monitoring the fire.”

Low said the fire’s activity has reduced to the point where those crews are now working long days, with no need to keep an active watch on the fire at night.

“There are still three hand crews that will be starting their shift at 6 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m. to continue their efforts at minimizing fire behavior,” Low said.

“And the winds are similar to what we have faced since the fire started. There haven’t been any higher-than-usual winds.”

________

Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Worst of rainfall over on Peninsula

Atmospheric river unleashes flooding, downed trees

Port Townsend OKs its budget for 2024

Reflects more than $60 million in expenses

Port of Port Townsend’s process for Short’s Farm underway

Steering committee includes farmers, land use organizations

Clallam residents reappointed to advisory boards

The Clallam County commissioners have reappointed several residents to… Continue reading

Blacklight art requested for show

Art for the Bring Your Own Blacklight Art Show,… Continue reading

Santa Claus, portrayed by John Greiner of Port Angeles, gets licks and kisses from Maru, a white husky mix belonging to Ally Kreider of Port Angeles, at the second annual Santa Paws holiday photo event on Saturday at Petsense in Port Angeles. Pet owners were allowed to bring their critters for a photo with Santa in an event sponsored by the Soroptimist International Noon Club of Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Holiday kisses

Santa Claus, portrayed by John Greiner of Port Angeles, gets licks and… Continue reading

Clallam County: 2-phase approach for Towne Road

Commissioners want trail atop levee

Jefferson County budget has good outlook

Commissioners expected to vote next week

Sheriff’s deputy, good Samaritan rescue two from water

Two people were rescued from 1,000 feet offshore in Squamish… Continue reading

Law enforcement: Sleeping smoker cause of house fire

A man who fell asleep while smoking was determined… Continue reading

Washington state ferries are docked on the north end of Vashon Island on Feb. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Three state ferries projects get federal funding

Washington State Ferries will receive three grants from the Federal… Continue reading

Accasia Anderson, 7, a second-grade student at Greywolf School in Sequim, examines a book for sale on Saturday at the school’s Holiday Bazaar. The event, hosted by the Sequim Elementary Parent Teacher Association, spotlighted the work of more than 50 vendors, including crafts made by students, along with a Scholastic Book Fair. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Book fair in Sequim

Accasia Anderson, 7, a second-grade student at Greywolf School in Sequim, examines… Continue reading