OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Obstruction Point Road has been closed because of smoke from the Cox Valley Fire about 2 ½ miles northeast of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
The fire, which was confirmed by park staff Thursday, has grown from about one-fourth acre to 3 acres, said Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman today.
Smoke from the Cox Valley Fire is visible from both the Hurricane Ridge Road and many other areas of the North Olympic Peninsula.
Park and fire personnel will provide assistance and escort for any hikers whose cars may have been parked along the Obstruction Point Road overnight, Maynes said.
The Cox Valley Fire is the third known fire caused by the storm of July 21, which brought heavy rain and more than 400 lightning strikes to the Olympic Mountains.
The Godkin Fire, discovered late Monday covering about 7 acres near the confluence of Godkin Creek and the Elwha River, had grown to 60 acres by today.
The Hayes Fire, covering less than one-fourth of an acre when it was found on Thursday near the Godkin Fire in the Elwha River Valley, had spread to 25 acres by today, according to Maynes.
Both are near the geographic center of the park, about 15 miles south of Hurricane Ridge.
“Smoke from each of these fires will likely be noticeable over the coming days, which are predicted to be warm and sunny,” said Rachel Spector, acting superintendent.
“No structures or facilities are threatened in any way, however.”
Heavy fuels
The Cox Valley Fire’s extensive smoke is because the blaze is burning in an area of heavy fuels including dead snags, Maynes said.
Firefighters used a helicopter and large bucket on Thursday to drop water onto the Cox Valley Fire and are continuing that today.
“We are using water drops to help confine this fire and limit its spread,” Spector said.
“The terrain is simply too hazardous for ground firefighters.”
In addition to helicopter bucket drops on the Cox Valley Fire, managers plan to use natural barriers such as rock outcrops, landslides, rivers and creeks to confine fire growth on all three fires.
Both aerial and ground-based observers are monitoring fire behavior and local area weather conditions through the day, Maynes said.
A six-person crew, comprised of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest firefighters is camped in the upper Elwha Valley and is monitoring the Hayes and Godkin fires, along with local weather and fuel.
A three-person crew is staged near the Cox Valley Fire.
Additional fire personnel and other resources are being called in to assist with the overall effort.
For more information about the ongoing park fires, email olympicfireinformation@gmail.com or call 360-565-3125.
