OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST — The Big Hump Fire, burning inside the Brothers Wilderness Area, has spread to almost 400 acres after a flare-up Tuesday night that pushed flames racing up a mountainside.
The new boundaries outline 389 acres, an area determined through a helicopter-based infrared scan of the burn area, said Heather Fisher, spokeswoman for the National Forest Service today.
The Big Hump Fire is burning in an Olympic National Forest wilderness area about 10 miles southwest of Brinnon.
Hot, dry winds stirred up fire activity today, but fire managers won’t know how much it expanded until the next flight, Fisher said.
Fire updates will be available each morning after daily 6 a.m. team briefings.
On Tuesday the fire burned up the steep slopes. Debris rolled downhill, igniting fuels below, which resulted in the blaze spreading up to the ridge top, said Pam Sichting, national forest spokeswoman.
Helicopter water drops were used to minimize the spread.
As of today, 103 personnel were assigned to the fire.
The slow-moving blaze remains largely on the ground, but has been spotting in the trees, creating “holes” of fire within unburned trees, Fisher said.
The fire is in a steep, heavily wooded area with old-growth Douglas fir, hemlock and red cedar.
A deep buildup of needles, leaves and brush provides a large amount of fuel for the fire.
The fire is not expected to reach Olympic National Park boundaries.
The Big Hump Fire is burning approximately five miles inside the Brothers Wilderness Area along the Duckabush Trail.
More information and updates on the Big Hump Fire can be found at www.inciweb.org/incident/2599
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
