PORT ANGELES — Interagency fire crews have located a 2.5-acre wildfire on Maiden Peak in Olympic National Park that was ignited by the lightning storm last weekend.
The Maiden Peak fire, situated on the northwest side of the peak, is primarily burning in the forest canopy, with some smoldering observed in debris on the ground, park officials said.
No structures or trails are currently threatened, and no evacuations or closures have been ordered.
The affected area recently experienced rainfall, with more precipitation expected in the coming days, park officials said.
“We will see if this fire persists through the rain,” said Molly Pittman, public affairs specialist with Olympic National Park.
The Maiden Peak fire was one of several sparked by lightning strikes across Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest on Saturday. Smoke reports were received immediately after the storm.
Due to a sustained drought preceding the storm, the Peninsula had been facing dangerous fire conditions, leading to a complete campfire ban implemented by Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest and the state Department of Natural Resources on July 26.
Meanwhile, the 2620 Road Fire, located west of Brinnon and north of Duckabush Road on Mount Jupiter, remains a concern. The fire had burned about 398 acres and was 8 percent contained on Wednesday.
Cooler temperatures and occasional light showers have provided firefighters with an opportunity to make progress, including mop-up efforts in some areas, fire officials said.
“These efforts should lead to an increase in the containment over the next few days,” said Norma Brock, public information officer with the Western Washington Incident Management Team.
However, Duckabush Road and Mount Jupiter Road (2620 Road) remain closed to all except residents, and evacuation notices remain in effect for the surrounding areas.
There were 373 personnel assigned to the 2620 Road Fire on Wednesday, with ongoing efforts to increase containment in the coming days. A temporary flight restriction also remained in place over the area.
“The 2500 block and above Duckabush remain at a Level 2 evacuation notice,” Brock said.
“The 1000 block up to the 2500 block remain at a Level 1,” she added. “There are no shelters open at this time.”
The Level 1 “get ready” evacuation notice advises residents to get ready, to be aware of the danger in the area and to prepare for a possible evacuation.
The Level 2 “get set” evacuation notice urges residents to prepare for sudden or short notice evacuation order. People with disabilities, small children, medical conditions or large animals should evacuate at this level.
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Reporting intern Christopher Urquia is a student at Peninsula College. He can be reached by email at christopher.urquia@peninsuladailynews.com.
