Rain is keeping park fires in check

New team arrive to assess damage

PORT ANGELES — A new team of fire experts has arrived at Olympic National Park to assess the impact of the various fires burning within the park since late August.

Starting today, the U.S. Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response team will investigate damages to cultural and natural resources and evaluate for potential future risks such as debris flows. The team arrived on Monday.

Rainy weather during the past week reduced fire activity, and fires are expected to remain within their current footprint, Olympic National Park (ONP) said in a press release.

“As threats to structures diminished, fire crews removed protective equipment and shifted locations,” ONP said. “No structural damage has been recorded at this time.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting mostly sunny conditions for the coming week, but high humidity should keep the fire areas from drying out.

There are seven fires currently burning within the park, all of which were started by lightning strikes in an Aug. 28 thunderstorm.

The largest of the fires, the Delabarre Fire, was at 4,165 acres as of Saturday. Cloud cover during the week prevented crews from conducting reconnaissance flights with infrared mapping equipment, but a flight was able to take place Saturday.

The fires are burning in wilderness areas and pose little to no risk to people or property, and fire managers are largely allowing them to burn naturally.

Most areas of the park remain open to the public, but several trails have been closed due to fire activity.

Trails currently closed until further notice are:

• Elwha River Trail from Dodger Point Trail junction to Low Divide

• Hayden Pass Trail

• Dosewallips River Trail from Dose Meadows to Hayden Pass

• 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

________

Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Shelby Vaughan, left, and her mother, Martha Vaughan, along with a selection of dogs, plan to construct dog shelters at Fox-Bell farm near Sequim in an effort to assist the Clallam County Humane Society with housing wayward canines.
Fox-Bell Humane Society transforming property

Goal is to turn 3 to 4 acres into new place for adoptable dogs

Phone policy varies at schools

Leaders advocating for distraction-free learning

Olympic Medical Center cash on hand seeing downward trend

Organization’s operating loss shrinking compared with last year

Traffic delays expected around Lake Crescent beginning Monday

Olympic National Park will remove hazardous trees along U.S.… Continue reading

Monthly art walks set in Sequim, Port Townsend

Monthly art walks, community theater performances and a kinetic skulpture race highlight… Continue reading

Partner families break ground along with supporters on Tuesday in Port Townsend. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Habitat project to bring six cottages to Port Townsend

Additional units in works for East Jefferson nonprofit

Harvest of Hope raises record for cancer center

Annual event draws $386K for patient navigator program, scholarships

Laurie Stewart, CEO of Sound Community Bank, accepts the Rick Kaps award at the annual Harvest of Hope gala at the Guy Cole Event Center in Sequim.
Sound Community Bank CEO earns Kaps award

Laurie Stewart, CEO of Sound Community Bank, worked her way… Continue reading

Port Angeles sets lodging tax caps

Operations, events requests limited on funding requests

State House candidates split on ballot initiatives

Roberson favors repealing issues; Bernbaum wants to modify them

Investors claim firm used a Ponzi scheme

Plaintiffs allege WaterStation Technology fraudulently raised $130 million

Kinetic Skulpture Race to celebrate 40 years this weekend

The head-turning Kinetic Sculpture Race will celebrate 40 years… Continue reading