A forest fire likely caused by visitors to Olympic National Park has spread across roughly 63 acres along a steep slope on the north shore of Lake Crescent.
Crews with Olympic Interagency Fire …
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A forest fire likely caused by visitors to Olympic National Park has spread across roughly 63 acres along a steep slope on the north shore of Lake Crescent.
Crews with Olympic Interagency Fire Management, along with aircraft and crews in wildfire fire engines, are battling the blaze.
The fire was first reported around 4 p.m. Wednesday, and is north of East Beach Road and has prompted the closure of access to the road for non-residents.
The road closure is between Highway 101 and Log Cabin Resort.
Day-use recreation areas along East Beach Road have been closed to the public as well.
Log Cabin Resort is still operating, with visitor access to the resort along Piedmont Road off of Highway 112.
Park officials said the fire is burning primarily on a south facing slope in a steep, heavily timbered area that has a shrub understory, and is being pushed uphill by terrain-driven winds.
Officials warned heavy smoke may be visible in the coming days — along with single trees being "torched" as the fire continues to burn — as there is a warm dry weather pattern expected for the region.
It is suspected that the fire was "human ignited," according to the National Park Service, but the cause and origin remain under investigation.
Park officials are asking anyone who was in the area of the fire on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 29 and noticed human activity on the north side of East Beach Road, to call the Olympic National Park tip line at 888-853-0009, or online at www.nps.gov/ISB or via email at nps_isb@nps.gov.
The Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park moved to moderate fire danger conditions on federal public lands last week.
While campfires are still allowed, they should not be left unattended, officials said, and fires are never allowed above the 3,500-elevation mark.
