It might be called a perfect storm, except that “storm” implies that there would be some rain.
This Labor Day weekend will see a mix of continued dry conditions on the North Olympic Peninsula with no rain in sight.
More people than usual are expected to venture into the woods and the mercury will likely stay high.
And fire officials in Clallam and Jefferson counties and the Olympic National Park are asking residents and tourists to take care.
“The best thing to do is to just have people be aware of our fire danger,” said Todd Rankin, assistant fire management officer for the Olympic National Park.
“We just need to try not to have any fires.”
No rain on horizon
There is no rain in sight through Tuesday, as far ahead as the National Weather Service in Seattle forecasts.
Saturday and Sunday are expected to have high temperatures close to 80 degrees and Labor Day, Monday, is expected to have highs in the lower 70s.
That’s great news for hikers, campers and anglers, but for firefighters, it’s a little scary.
Fire danger isn’t always obvious in the verdant forests of the North Olympic Peninsula, according to East Jefferson County Fire Chief Mike Mingee.
“People see the nice, green, lush forests and they don’t think we have a fire danger.”
But material beneath the trees is bone dry.
“That’s what makes fire travel.”
So far, brush fires haven’t caused significant damage, Port Angeles Fire Chief Dan McKeen said.
“Every brush fire could potentially get worse,” he said.
“I think we’ve been lucky.”
