Port Angeles – The latest on the Bear Gulch Fire now includes another fire in the area, the new Hamma fire, which was first reported Sunday evening.
Officials said Monday the incident management team managing the Bear Gulch Fire has assumed command of the nearby Hamma Fire. Firefighters are using direct attack to suppress the Hamma Fire.
The Hamma Fire is along Forest Service Road 2480 in the Hamma Hamma drainage on state DNR land northeast of the Bear Gulch Fire. Helicopter activity may be visible.
The Bear Gulch Fire, which has now burned over 1100 acres, has been backing towards the Staircase area of Olympic National Park. Sprinklers are in place and structures and infrastructure in the area have been prepared with protective structural wrap.
Much of it has been spreading in the steep hillside when burning debris rolls to the bottom and lights up new fuel that, in turn, burns fresh trees on its way back up the hill.