PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Peninsula got its first real taste of wildfire smoke this week, and residents began noticing it in a big way yesterday afternoon. Heavy smoke drifted into the area, and some communities even reported ash falling from the sky.
The haze isn’t from any new local fires, but from shifting winds that carried smoke in from two major wildfires burning elsewhere in Western Washington. The Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman in Mason County has now grown to nearly 16,000 acres, up from 12,000 on Tuesday, and is just nine percent contained. Steep, rugged terrain and dry weather have made it difficult to fight, and officials say it is producing heavy smoke.
Farther north, the Tunnel Creek Fire is burning in remote terrain west of Quilcene in the Buckhorn Wilderness. Sparked by lightning, it has charred close to 300 acres and remains uncontained. While smaller, it is still adding to the smoke and haze across the region.
The combination of these fires, along with the wind shift, has lowered air quality across Clallam and Jefferson counties. Meteorologists say another change in wind direction is expected soon, which could bring some short-term relief. Looking ahead, forecasters also expect the Northwest’s rainy season to kick in next week, with a strong chance of above-normal precipitation. That could help clear the air and ease wildfire conditions across the region.