QUILCENE — A lightning-caused wildfire is burning in a remote area of the Buckhorn Wilderness in Olympic National Forest.
U.S. Forest Service fire managers located the fire Tuesday about 10 miles west of Quilcene and 1.5 miles west of the Tunnel Creek trailhead accessed from Forest Service Road 2740.
The fire was estimated to be 161 acres based on an infrared flight Tuesday night, the forest service said.
Smoke could be seen from the Mount Walker north viewpoint, the agency added.
“Visible smoke columns could potentially be seen over the next couple days if the temperature increases from direct sunlight and moisture is low,” the forest service stated in a press release. “Reconnaissance flights will continue to be performed if flight conditions improve and resources are available. Fire behavior is anticipated to moderate over the weekend with cooler temperatures and elevated moisture.”
Closures include Tunnel Creek trail No. 841, Tunnel Creek via the Big Quilcene Road trailhead and Tunnel Creek via the Dosewallips Road trailhead, the forest service said.
Farther south, the Bear Gulch fire remained 9 percent contained as of Thursday morning.
The human-caused fire started July 6 about 10 miles northwest of Hoodsport in Mason County and had consumed 10,629 acres, according to incident information at inciweb.wildfire.gov. It remains under investigation.
Sixty-six personnel were at the scene Thursday.
The fire is burning on a steep rocky slope north of Lake Cushman and southeast of the Staircase area in Olympic National Park.
Falling debris across Forest Service Road 2400 continues to be a primary hazard in the area, according to the incident report. That road is closed to the public, including access to day use, trailheads and other sites beyond the closure point at mile marker 10.5, the report said.
Access to Mount Rose Residential Division 2, 3 and 4 remains open, the report said.
Tacoma Public Utilities and the Mason County Sheriff’s office have closed the north end of Lake Cushman to the public while fire suppression and evacuation efforts continue, the report said.
All campfires continue to be prohibited in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. That applies to anything that produces ash, including charcoal grills, the forest service said. Gas or propane stoves, lanterns or heating devices are permitted in campgrounds and wilderness areas if there is no flammable material within 3 feet of the device, the agency said.
