PORT ANGELES — Wildfires totalling 250 acres in Olympic National Park — more than double initial National Park Service estimates — were decreasing in intensity Sunday due to cooler weather, a Park Service information officer said Sunday.
Lisa Wilkolak said improved mapping increased the tally of acreage burning that was first estimated Saturday.
“Fire behavior has been decreasing over the last two days,” she said, adding that smoke has decreased.
Flights were scheduled Sunday night to further map the blazes’ heat signatures.
About 35 fire personnel were fighting the fires Sunday, the same total as Saturday.
All four fires were caused by lightning strikes during a July 21 storm, which brought heavy rain and more than 400 lightning strikes to the Olympic Mountains.
As of Sunday, the Hayes fire, 20 miles south of Port Angeles on a ridgeline between the Lost and Hayes rivers, was 150 acres, not 30 as first estimated, Wilkolak said.
The Godkin fire, 25 miles south of Port Angeles along the Elwha River, was 90 acres, not 65.
The Cox Valley fire, 12 mile south of Port Angeles near PJ Lake north of Obstruction Point Ridge, was still 10 acres.
Wilkolak said smoke from the Cox fire will keep Obstruction Point Road closed for the next couple of days.
Park and fire personnel escorted hikers and motorists off Obstruction Point Road on Friday.
The Cox fire’s plumes initially had been visible from Sequim.
The Ignar Creek fire 22 miles northeast of Lake Quinault was still a half-acre.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
