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A wildfire burning near Lake Cushman has shut down access to several popular recreation areas near the lake and the Staircase entrance of Olympic National Park, park officials said in a statement on Monday.
The Bear Gulch Fire was reported on July 6 and has burned about 200 acres on a steep, rocky slope in Olympic National Forest, north of Lake Cushman and just outside the national park. The fire was human-caused, and no homes or communities were at risk as of July 7, according to the park’s public affairs office.
The fire is burning near Forest Service Road 24, which runs along the lake and provides access to campgrounds and trailheads in the area. Currently, the Staricase area and campground and the Bear Gulch day use area are inaccessible, along with the Mt. Rose, Dry Creek and Copper Creek trailheads.
“Public and firefighter safety remains our top priority,” park staff said in a news release. “To support this effort, visitors are being asked to avoid the Lake Cushman/Staircase area.”
Around 11:30 p.m. on July 6, Hoodsport Fire and EMS said in a social media post that they were aware of a fire about one mile south of the Staircase campground.
“The fire is burning on a vertical slope and access is not possible on foot,” according to the post. “Due to this, the scene has been turned over to the United States Forest Service.”
The campground was evacuated during the night, according to Hoodsport Fire and EMS, and the fire was expected to continue burning until air assets could begin fighting it in daylight.
Firefighters are currently working from the ground and air to slow the fire’s spread, according to the park’s public affairs office.
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Planes and helicopters have been scooping water from Lake Cushman to drop over the fire. To assist the efforts, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on July 7 that they will have a patrol boat on the lake to keep the water clear and ensure public safety.
About 40 firefighters, divided into two 20-person crews, are working in areas accessible by road. Additional firefighting teams are expected to join on July 8, along with a specialized response group, called a Type 3 Incident Management Team, according to the statement.
For updates on the Bear Gulch Fire, visit the Olympic National Forest website.
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