The Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) took over management of the Bear Gulch Fire last night, July 8, 2025, at 8:00 PM. The fire is burning north of Lake Cushman in the Olympic National Forest and southeast of the Staircase area in the Olympic National Park. No homes or structures are threatened at this time.
The fire is burning in an area with extremely steep and rocky terrain that previously burned in the 2006 Bear Gulch Fire. The previous fire resulted in numerous standing dead trees which pose a significant risk to firefighter safety and rolling debris including large boulders and fallen trees continues to impact Forest Service Road 24. Currently aviation is being utilized to suppress and slow the progress of the fire while handcrews and engines take action to contain the fire near FS-24. Additionally, crews are assessing structures and preparing plans to protect Staircase area houses and infrastructure should the fire progress further to the west.
Evacuation Levels: While there are no evacuation orders currently in effect, below is a reminder of how to prepare for an evacuation incident:
- Level 1 – READY: Prepare a go kit for you, family, animals. Clear areas around your home in advance. Know your escape routes.
- Level 2 – SET: Have your go kit on hand and ready. Ensure you, your family, and animals and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
- Level 3 – GO: Grab your go kit. Load your family and animals and leave.
Closures:
Recreation Sites
Staircase Area and Campground (in Olympic National Park)
Bear Gulch Day Use Area
Mt. Rose Trailhead
Dry Creek Trailhead
Copper Creek Trailhead
Lake Usage
The northwest section of Lake Cushman needs to remain clear. This zone may be needed by firefighting aircraft for scooping and landing.
Weather and Fire Behavior: An upper-level ridge of high pressure is expected to rebuild starting Thursday, which will bring warmer and dry weather into the weekend.
Smoke: Folks along the southeastern Olympic Peninsula and around the Puget Sound may have noticed a layer of haze. Slightly higher relative humidity should limit fire growth on Tuesday but expect the fire to continue to produce smoke with the greatest impacts along Lake Cushman. Communities such as Hoodsport, Potlatch, and Skokomish may see periods of unhealthy air for sensitive groups, mainly in the morning hours.
Air Space Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire. Any unaccounted-for aircraft, including drones, puts aerial firefighting resources and lives at risk. If you fly, we can’t. All firefighting aircraft must be grounded if unmanned aircraft or drones are operating near the fire.