PORT ANGELES — Hurricane Ridge Road remained closed Wednesday after lightning strikes earlier in the week caused small brush fires below the Hurricane Ridge parking lot.
Olympic National Park officials said a small, one-acre fire was first reported around 4:30 p.m. Monday in a tree stand about 2,000 feet below the parking lot.
Park officials also confirmed a small, quarter-acre fire near the Obstruction Point parking lot, known as the Eagle Point Fire. Fire personnel are monitoring the Eagle Point Fire and do not expect substantial growth, park officials said in a Tuesday press release.
The road condition hotline operated by the park said Wednesday afternoon that Hurricane Ridge Road continued to be closed. Park officials did not respond to requests for more updated information on the status of the fires.
According to ONP staff, the Hurricane Fire was burning in heavy dead and downed fuels in steep terrain.
“The fire is showing moderate creeping and smoldering behavior with some isolated torching and minimal growth overnight,” the park said.
Both fires are believed to have been caused by lightning strikes.
Current firefighting resources include a hand crew, one engine, and a water tender, the park said.
Additional resources have been ordered to assist and help mitigate any other fires that may have been caused as a result of the recent lightning strikes.
The Hurricane Ridge Road is closed just past the Heart of the Hills entrance station for firefighter and public safety, the park said. Visitors can still access the Heart of the Hills Campground.
The National Weather Service is forecasting light rain for the region Wednesday and today with temperatures warming into the weekend. Most lightning activity will have moved east of the Cascade crest, NWS said.
Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest enacted a fire ban including charcoal fires on Aug. 18, due to continued hot and dry conditions that are forecasted to continue at least through the end of October.
For updates on road status and weather conditions call 360-565-3131 or visit nps.gov/olym.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
