Cooler Temperatures Slow Fire Spread
Incident: Heatwave Complex Wildfire
Released: 8/7/2009
Interagency News Release
For Immediate Release
12:00 p.m. Aug. 7, 2009
For Immediate Release
Fire Information Officer: Sharma Hutchinson 360-565-3124
Cooler Temperatures Slow Fire Spread
The spread of Olympic National Park's five active fires has slowed due to cooler, moister weather, but extended dry periods and predicted warmer fall weather could produce fire behavior similar to what was observed previously.
"While fire spread is currently minimal, we are continuously assessing conditions and weather forecasts. We will alter our strategies as needed," said Incident Commander Roy Hall.
Fire officials will hold a public meeting at the Brinnon Community Center on Friday evening, August 7, at 6:00 p.m. and will present information about future expectations, weather predictions, and fire effects on the forest ecosystem.
The majority of the Heatwave Complex Fires are located in inaccessible areas of Olympic National Park and the Olympic National Forest. None of the fires currently pose immediate threats to life, safety, and property. They are being managed in order to maximize the ecological benefit of naturally occurring wildfire. Firefighters and helicopters continue work on the Constance fire to prevent spread to the east.
Within the fires, burn severity is not uniform. There are some patches of forest where the overstory is burned, some slightly affected and some apparently unaffected at this time. Naturally occurring fire is vital to maintaining ecological diversity throughout the Park. Fire plays an important natural role by releasing nutrients that stimulate new plant growth and create a mosaic of diversity in vegetation communities.
The Dosewallips Road/Trail is CLOSED at the Olympic National Forest's Elkhorn Campground due to the Constance Fire because the fire is releasing burning logs and debris downslope onto the road/trail. This closure includes the Lake Constance Trail, The Main Fork Dosewallips to Greywolf Pass Junction, West Fork Dosewallips to Honeymoon Meadows, and Constance Pass/Home Lake access from Boulder Shelter Camp (USFS) on the Upper Dungeness.
The Duckabush Trail is CLOSED from the trailhead to the LaCrosse Pass junction due to the Tenmile Fire.
There is currently an open FIRE BAN throughout the park (stoves permitted). The only exceptions are at the coast, where all open fires must be placed below the high tide line; and in fire rings in frontcountry campgrounds.
Current information on trail conditions, including fire-related closures and alternative routes will continue to be available through the park's Wilderness Information Center (360-565-3100) and online at http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-trail-conditions.htm. Hikers may encounter smoke in the fire areas. Fire management updates can also be tracked on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/ or http://www.brinnon.org/ for local Brinnon residents.
Heatwave Complex Fires
The Constance fire is 438 acres and has shown no growth since Sunday, August 2, 2009.
The Buckinghorse fire is approximately 324 acres in the upper Elwha valley.
The 10 Mile fire is approximately 492 acres, moving in to the steep slopes above the Duckabush River.
The Sol Duc fire in the Seven lakes basin is holding at four acres.
More information is available at http://www.inciweb.org/.
For a recorded update on the fires in the Heatwave Complex please call: 360-565-2975
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