Submitted by Public Information Team
Estimated size: 443 acres
Containment: 0%
Start Date/Time: 07/06/2025 9:42 PM
Area of Origin: North side of Lake Cushman near Mount Rose in Olympic National Forest, Hoodsport, WA
Cause: Human-caused
Structures Damaged: 0
Update: July 14 Crews continue to work along NF Road 2400 removing brush, hazardous trees, logs and snags . to ensure safe access and egress for responders. Firefighters working around the Staircase Ranger Station continue to prep areas around structures and improve fire breaks. They have placed sprinklers in strategic positions due to proximity of the fire. Crews continue patrolling Divisions 2, 3, and 4 and other areas along the lower edge of the fire. Additional resources have been ordered to enhance our ability to protect values at risk.
Update: On July 12, the fire exhibited minimal growth as crews advanced suppression efforts across key areas. Work continues on the Mount Rose Trail system to use as a barrier to fire spread. More resources have arrived to bolster structure protection and further reinforce containment strategies. Along NF Road 2400, fire personnel continued to remove brush, small trees, logs, and snags—strengthening the fire break and enhancing access and escape routes for firefighters. Work continued around the Staircase Ranger Station, where crews cleared vegetation around buildings to safeguard structures.
Know before you go – Before heading outdoors, please check the latest trail conditions and closure notices. Additional trails may close in the coming days to support future control line operations. Be safe, stay informed, and plan ahead.
Falling or rolling debris from the fire area, including large boulders and trees will continue to pose a serious hazard to anyone on NF Road 2400 (also known as FS-24, Road 119 and N Lake Cushman Road). Due to this ongoing threat and significant safety concerns, NF Road 2400 is closed, including access to day use, trailheads and other sites beyond the closure point, at mile marker 10.5. This point is where the pavement ends and the Forest Service road ahead of the Mt. Rose Trail, Lake Cushman Day use areas and into the Staircase area of Olympic National Park begins.
Due to dry conditions, high fire danger, and the number of interagency resources already dedicated to active incidents, campfires in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest are restricted to established fire rings starting at 12 a.m. on July 11th, 2025.
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:
There are many closures within both the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest. Please visit their websites to view all closures:
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/olympic/alerts/bear-gulch-fire-area-closure
- https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm
Lake Usage:
We will continue to use the North end of Lake Cushman for dipping water to use for fire suppression. Please continue to keep the north end of the lake clear from boating and other recreational uses.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Today will be Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm winds becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. Monday will be partly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Smoke: Smoke impacts have been minimal thanks to the cooler weather over the last couple of days. With warmer weather starting today, 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.
Submitted by Incident Commander Chris Harper
Bear Gulch Fire update: The fire is burning in the Olympic National Forest 10 miles northwest of Hoodsport, WA. A small portion of the fire is on Department of Natural Resources land as well. While this fire is burning outside of Hoodsport Fire’s response area, they have continued to assist both the Western Washington type 3 team and the agency administrators as a local cooperator who is familiar with the area.
The fire is in 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. Rolling debris from the fire area, including large boulders and fallen trees poses a serious hazard to anyone on NF Road 2400 (also known as FS-24, Road 119 and N Lake Cushman Road). Due to this significant safety concern, NF Road 2400 is closed at mile marker 10.5 where the pavement ends and the dirt road into the Staircase area of Olympic National Park begins.
Currently aviation is being used to suppress and slow the progress of the fire while hand crews and engines take action to contain the fire near NF Rd 2400. Additionally, crews are preparing plans to protect nearby communities should the fire progress further. Fire activity is expected to increase with the anticipated warmer weekend weather.
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:
Road Closures:
- NF Road 2400 is closed at mile post 10.5
- NFS Road 2451 is closed at Copper Creek Trailhead and Dry Creek East Trailhead are not accessible.
- All spur roads located within the Forest Service Closure area are also closed to the public.
Trail Closures:
- #814 Mt Rose Trail
Recreation Site Closures:
- Bear Gulch Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 1 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 2 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 3 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 4 Picnic Area
- Cushman Day Use Site 5 Picnic Area
- Mt Rose Trailhead
- The Staircase area and Campground in Olympic National Park are closed
Lake Usage
- The northwest section of Lake Cushman needs to remain clear of boaters and recreational use for visitor and fire fighter safety (see attached image). This zone may be needed by firefighting aircraft for scooping and landing.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Today will bring highs around 69, southwest winds 4-8 mph, and temperatures into the mid 50’s overnight. High pressure, both surface and aloft, building offshore Thursday through Friday. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 80’s Friday afternoon.
Smoke: Residents 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.
