OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Yet another fire was discovered Monday in the Olympic Mountains, bringing the number of active fires to six.
Seven have been reported in the Olympics this summer. One has been extinguished.
A helicopter reconnaissance flight discovered a fire burning near the Dosewallips area, in the area of Olympic National Park’s Dose Forks Campground, a backcountry campsite about 16 miles northwest of Brinnon.
The new fire has been named the Hungry Fire and has burned about one-tenth of an acre, fire officials said.
Helicopter water drops were planned to control the fire, which is burning in an inaccessible area of the park.
The Hungry Fire joins the Paradise, Hayes and LaCrosse fires in the park. In Olympic National Forest are the Cabin Creek and Gold fires. The Zion Fire, which began earlier this month in the national forest, has been extinguished.
All were started by lightning strikes.
The weather is forecast to be warmer and drier over the next few days, and smoke from all fires in the region likely will increase, according to fire managers.
■ The Paradise Fire, about 12 miles inside Olympic National Park boundaries in the Queets River valley, remained at 2,440 acres Tuesday, with minimal fire activity.
Helicopter bucket drops continued on the fire line near Bob Creek, and the Sequoia-Kings Wildfire Module, with a division supervisor and field observer, began operations.
The rain gauges in the Queets River drainage were checked, and no measurable precipitation fell in the fire area as most recent storm system passed through the area.
The fire began in May.
■ The Hayes Fire, at about one-tenth of an acre inside park boundaries, was fully contained Monday.
It was discovered Saturday and was burning in a steep and nearly inaccessible area near the Hayden Pass Trail, about 22 miles west of Quilcene
Fire crews will monitor the fire in the near future.
■ The LaCrosse Fire, at about one-tenth of an acre inside park boundaries, was discovered Sunday and was burning in a difficult area about 18 miles west of Brinnon.
Helicopter reconnaissance showed the fire had minimal growth with low potential for spread.
Because of a national shortage of firefighters, the fire will be monitored and firefighters sent for additional actions as staffing allows.
Gold Cabin Complex
The two fires of the Gold Cabin Complex in Olympic National Forest, which were sparked by a July 12 lightning storm, remained in a mop-up phase Tuesday.
The Gold and Cabin Creek fires were renamed the Gold Cabin Complex as a single managed fire system.
Resources assisting with the suppression efforts include four hand-crews, two engines, two tree faller teams and two water tenders with assistance from Paradise Fire helicopters.
■ The Gold Fire, located near Bon Jon Pass 10 miles south of Blyn, remained at about 10 acres.
As a result of the Gold Fire, the Little Quilcene Trail remained closed from its trailhead to the Tubal Cain Trailhead, as well as the Mount Townsend Trail from the top of Mount Townsend to the Little Quilcene Trail.
Also closed are Forest Service Road 2820 and Forest Service Road 2820-100, all until further notice.
■ The Cabin Creek Fire, 3 miles northeast of Lena Lake and the Hamma Hamma campgrounds, remained at 8 acres Monday.
The Zion Fire, reported Aug. 12 on Mount Zion about 9 miles northwest of Quilcene, has been extinguished.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
