By: Pepper Fisher

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – The latest news on the East Beach Road fire along Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park says crews have the fire 65% contained, but they’ve been able to cut a fireline around 90% of the 84-acre blaze.

A report issued Monday afternoon says fire suppression efforts were aided in the last 24 hours by a cooler weather pattern over the area, and there was even some rain reported.

Officials are continuing to assess hazards along the edges of the fire and firefighters are removing those when safe to do so. They’re also staying busy widening and improving the line around the fire.

Officials say the fire, which began Wednesday and is believed to have been human-caused, might continue to smolder for weeks, as some of the hot spots are in terrain too steep or dangerous for firefighters to approach.

(DNR photo: Firefighters are filling portable water tanks on top of the ridge above the fire. These tanks will allow firefighters to have a cache of water to draw from to help cool down and put out hot spots around the edges of the fire.)