Summary
The East Fork Fire is 21 acres in size. The fire is located approximately one mile north of Lena Lake and is slowly creeping through heavy sub-alpine timber. Recent rain and cool weather has stopped growth of the fire. A two-person crew will evaluate the site this weekend.
The Brothers Trail (#821) will remain closed pending the evaluation, but may reopen as early as next week. The Lena Lake (#810) and Upper Lena Lake (#811) trails remain open, as does Lena Lake itself. The Bear Gulch II Fire is 1,085 acres in size. The fire will be monitored until threats to life, property and resources are no longer of concern. Forest Service Road 24 remains closed, preventing all access to Staircase and the Rock. A Forest Service Burned Area Evaluation and Restoration (BAER) Team is monitoring hillside conditions over the winter and evaluating options for reopening the road next spring. Lake Cushman is fully accessible, except for routine shoreline and navigational closures. However, the annual drawdown by the City of Tacoma may impact use significantly throughout the season. Mild, dry weather this week may bring an increase in smoke activity.
NOTE: Most information on this site refers to the Bear Gulch II Fire. Specific questions regarding the East Fork Fire should be directed to Brad Paul at (360) 765-2213. On-Going Restrictions and Closures Forest Service Road 24 (north of Lake Cushman) is closed due to hazardous debris fall. A temporary gate has been installed. The Rock, a popular attraction and origin of the Bear Gulch II Fire, is within the closure area and access is not permitted. The Staircase entrance to the Olympic National Park and the following trails remain closed: North Fork Skokomish River, Wagon Wheel and Staircase Rapids. The following trails in the Olympic National Forest are also closed: Copper Creek (#876), Dry Creek (#872), Mt. Rose (#814) and The Brothers (#821).
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Human Caused |
| Date of Origin | 07/25/2006 at 0101 hrs. |
| Location | Lake Cushman, WA |
| Incident Commander | David Bauman |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | Not available |
|---|---|
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | FM 8, Heavy Closed Timber Litter |
| Fire Behavior | Smoldering and creeping |
| Significant Events | Not available |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Both fires are in monitoring status. |
|---|---|
| Projected Movement | Cool temperatures, higher humidity and increased chances for precipitation will help control both fires. |
| Growth Potential | Low |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extremely steep and rugged |
| Containment Target | Containment is hard to predict because of weather, availability of resources, and extreme terrain. |
| Remarks | Not available |
Weather
| Current Wind Conditions | Not available |
|---|---|
| Current Temperature | Not available |
| Current Humidity | Not available |
