Fires on Olympic Peninsula ignite forests: Still no end in sight
The Toonerville Fire near Belfair and the Bear Gulch Fire north of Lake Cushman have caused evacuations and closures while local firefighters and state resources work to stop the spread of flames. Here is the latest on the fires that lie just outside the Great Peninsula.
Originally a brush fire on NE Toonerville Drive, the Toonerville Fire has continued to burn since the evening of July 8, leading to the evacuation of all Toonerville residents and threats to surrounding neighborhoods.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources updated that a drone launched over the fire has determined its size to be close to 85 acres as of July 10. The fire had consumed approximately 120 acres after the first night.
DNR said the fire was monitored by crews overnight as some winds on Wednesday caused growth on the northern edge. At present, firefighters are working to complete a line around the fire's perimeter and have requested aid from more ground and air crews.
No buildings have sustained damage at this time, although evacuation warnings given to residents on NE Blacksmith Drive, NE Smithy Forge Lane, NE Pond Court, NE Forge Court, NE Lakeway Drive, NE Lakeway Drive South and NE Anvil Lane still remain intact. As for other nearby communities, DNR said changing fire and wind conditions could cause the air quality to suffer.
The cause of the Toonerville Fire is still undetermined.
The human-caused fire in the Olympic National Forest near Mount Rose was reported on July 10 to now span 415 acres, over double in size since Monday. Starting July 6 around 10 p.m., the U.S. Forest Service said the fire is currently burning 10 miles northwest of Hoodsport in extremely steep and rocky terrain.
An area the site of another fire almost 20 years ago, the Bear Gulch Fire in 2006 left behind several dead trees that are still standing, which the Forest Service said are a significant threat to firefighter safety.
Closures at nearby roads, trails and recreations site remain in place as the Forest Service warns large boulders and fallen trees, among other debris, could be dangerous to anyone passing through. A full list of all closures can be found online.
Outside the forest, structures have still not been harmed by the fire and no evacuation notices have been issued to neighborhoods close by. However, occupants of the southeastern Olympic Peninsula and around the Puget Sound may notice a layer of haze, the Forest Service said.
A burn ban will go into effect throughout the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park on Friday. According to the Olympic National Forest's statement the day prior, campfires are not allowed outside of established fire rings at recreation sites.
'Because it was a very dry spring, forest vegetation is extremely dry, stressed, and receptive to stray embers,' said Olympic Interagency Fire Management Officer Jeff Bortner in a statement. 'The ongoing Bear Gulch Fire shows how fast fires can grow in these conditions. When firefighters are responding to other incidents across the region, it's even more important to prevent human-caused starts.'
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Toonerville, Bear Gulch fires burn throughout early July
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