Update: Smoke continues to be visible from afar as the fire moves further into the Mount Skokomish Wilderness, west of Mt. Rose; burning above road 24. Operations remain focused on continuing to safely implement this critical work. Crews will keep working to prep and secure the Staircase area with sprinkler kits and fire protective wrap on structures. They will continue to work off the fire breaks, established from roads 2419 and 2451, and will be strengthening the line by utilizing heavy equipment and hand crews. Furthermore, hand crews will continue constructing handline near the Mt. Ellinor trail system with heavy equipment off of road 2419. As the fire remains active a type 1 helicopter will keep dropping water on the fire to slow its progress towards National Park infrastructure. Fire crews are also building up and reinforcing the containment lines around the perimeter using natural barriers, roads, and trails. This fire is burning in extremely steep terrain that rises 3500 ft. from the lakeshore to the top of Mt. Rose and on to Copper Mountain. Firefighter and public safety are our number one priority, so these steep conditions limit and slow down the ability of work being done on the hillside due to rolling debris, falling trees, and difficult access.
Closures: USDA, Forest Service, Olympic National Forest Order NO. 06-09-25-04 for the Bear Gulch area is in effect. NF Road 2400 is closed at mile marker 10.5, at the junction of N Mount Church DR. and NF road 2400. This closure on NF Road 2400 includes access to day use, trailheads and other sites beyond the closure point. FS RD-2419 is closed at the intersection of 2419 and the NF road 2400 with temporary barricades in place. This includes the Mt. Ellinor trail system. The Upper Big Creek Loop, leaving from Big Creek Campground are also closed. This closure remains in effect while crews operate heavy equipment to improve the fire-line. Big Creek Campground remains open. We may need to close other campsites or trails in the future.
Additional information is available at these website links.
For Olympic National Park closures, check their website:
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.
Lake Usage: Aircraft will continue to use the North end of Lake Cushman for dipping water for fire suppression. Please continue to keep the north end of the lake clear from boating and other recreational uses.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Saturday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Winds will be southeast around 5 mph. Saturday evening will be partly cloudy with a low around 51. Winds will be northwest from 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Smoke: There may be occasional smoke in the afternoon as the temperature rises and humidity falls. With the hot, dry weather, communities near the fire such as Hoodsport, Potlatch, and Skokomish should expect intermittent periods of smoke.
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.