Olympic National Park Fires 2016
Godkin, Hayes, Cox Valley and Ignar Creek
Another hot and dry day with active fire is expected Saturday.
The
Red Flag warning was extended through Saturday evening. Saturdays forecast is
for temperatures in the high 80’s to low 90’s, minimum relative humidity 19%,
lighter winds from the southwest 3 to 8 mph. With these conditions fire
managers are anticipating another active fire day.
Helicopters
will continue to drop water on the Cox Valley fire as needed, to check the
spread of the fire. Monitoring and patrolling along the trails in the
vicinities of the other fires will continue, providing for public and
firefighter safety.
Smoke
generated from these fires was very visible around the Puget Sound Region
Friday evening and Saturday morning. As the temperatures drop into the evening
smoke will naturally settle into the lower valley bottoms surrounding the park.
The lower Elwha valley including Lake Sutherland and Lake Crescent, Queets
Valley, Morse Creek and the Deer Park areas and potentially the Sequim valley
could experience an increase in smoke.
Friday’s activities
On
the Cox Valley, fire helicopters dropped water on many hot spots along the
perimeter cooling the fire sufficiently to keep the fire intensity low and
preventing any spread toward Obstruction Point Road. This road will remain
closed until fire managers determine it is safe to reopen.
The
Hayes fire became very active in the afternoon and continued burning throughout
the night. The southerly movement is approaching the Hayden Pass Trail
resulting in closure of the trail from Dose Meadows to the junction with the
Elwha River Trail effective Saturday morning. Fire managers estimated growth of
between 200-300 acres.
The
Godkin fire also was very active in the afternoon moving in both northerly and
southerly directions with an estimated growth of 35 acres. Smoke from the Ignar
Creek fire reappeared Friday afternoon. Aerial monitoring detected minimal
growth.
An
Infrared flight (IR), was ordered for Friday night. New maps were produced for
the Cox Valley and Godkin fires, unfortunately technical difficulties prevented
new maps for the Hayes fire.
An
engine assisted with response to a new fire start in the Joyce area at the
request of the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The initial attack
was successful and the engine returned in the afternoon to continue support of
the Cox Valley Fire.
Below is a summary of the fires. All four fires were started
by lightning on July 21, 2016.
Fire Name
|
Godkin
|
Hayes
|
Cox Valley
|
Ignar Creek
|
Initial Report
|
7.25.2016
|
7.26.2016
|
7.28.2016
|
7.29.2016
|
Estimated size 8/20/2016
|
137 acres from IR
|
Approx. 350 to 450 acres
|
55 acres from IR
|
Approx. ½ acre
|
Location
|
25 miles south of Port Angeles along the Elwha
River
|
20 miles south of Port Angeles on a ridgeline
between the Lost River and Hayes River
|
Approximately 12 miles south of Port Angeles,
near PJ Lake north of Obstruction Point Ridge
|
Approximately 22 miles northeast of Lake
Quinault
|
Photos maps, and previous updates are available online.
Inciweb address: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ incident/4906/
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ONP-ONF-
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