Bear Gulch Fire Update: Staircase and Lake Cushman areas closed, crews limit eastern spread

The Bear Gulch Fire, a human-caused blaze in the Olympic National Forest, continues to be a focus for the Olympic Interagency Fire crews. As of July 8, the fire had consumed 328 acres north of Lake Cushman. In an effort to contain the fire, heavy helicopters and ground crews have been deployed.

The containment efforts have been successful in limiting the fire’s eastern spread to five acres. This was achieved primarily through the use of helicopter water drops. Despite the fire’s size, there are currently no evacuation orders in place for nearby communities.

The Staircase and Lake Cushman areas of the forest have been closed due to the fire. The closure is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the public and the fire crews working to control the blaze. The ongoing efforts to contain the fire are being closely monitored by the National Park Service.