Submitted by Olympic National Forest
On July 8, interagency fire crews continued their efforts to contain the human-caused Bear Gulch Fire with heavy helicopters and ground crews. As of 6 p.m. on July 8,3328 acres have burned north of Lake Cushman in Olympic National Forest. The helicopter water drops limited the fire’s eastern spread to five acres. There are currently no evacuation orders for nearby communities.
Ground crews are working to minimize the widening of the fire perimeter along the Lake Cushman Corridor (FS-24) and protect egress. Crews observed single tree torching, not sustained runs. The dead-end road offers the only entry and exit point for Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest trailheads and campgrounds in the Lake Cushman and Staircase areas. Because the fire is burning in a treacherous, rocky slope, crews are concerned about debris and boulders scattering onto the road and blocking egress. Maintaining egress is critical to ensure crew access and safety.
Though the fire is unlikely to reach the area in the next 36 hours, crews are proactively preparing to protect structures in the Staircase area of Olympic National Park while still possible.
A Type 3 Incident Management Team will manage the operation going forward. The team has ordered an infrared survey to get a better picture of the fire’s size and spread. The fire has reached the top of Mount Rose but hasn’t crossed to the other side.
The following recreation sites remain inaccessible:
- Staircase Area and Campground (In Olympic National Park)
- Bear Gulch Day Use Area
- Mt. Rose Trailhead
- Dry Creek Trailhead
- Copper Creek Trailhead
Public and firefighter safety remains our top priority. To support this effort visitors are being asked to avoid the Lake Cushman/Staircase area.
For updates regarding the Bear Gulch Fire, visit the incidents Inciweb page and Olympic National Forest website.
Read more Thurston County news here.
