The Bear Gulch fire has been raging for a month (first reported on July 6), but our region has escaped most of its smoke impacts.
That changed recently. Over the last several days, communities in Mason and Thurston County experienced Moderate air quality conditions (AirNow Fire and Smoke Map).
The Bear Gulch Fire grew to nearly 5,000 acres, and despite intense firefighting efforts for the past four weeks, the fire containment stands at just three percent. The efforts to battle the Hamma Fire just north and east of the Bear Gulch have been more successful. The Hamma Fire stands at just 67 acres, with 95 percent containment.
The steep terrain on the north shore of Lake Cushman and along the eastern boundary of Olympic National Park has impeded firefighting efforts, leaving most of the fight to aerial attacks as ground crews face dangerously steep and unstable slopes along the flanks of the fire.
To date, the smoke from the fire has been lifted high into the atmosphere, keeping it well above most western Washington communities. But this week’s low cloud layer and light winds have allowed the smoke to spread into the Hood Canal and Puget Sound basins. As a result, local air monitors showed periods of Moderate conditions.
To stay updated on the local air quality conditions around ORCAA’s region, visit Current Air Quality – ORCAA. For updates on current wildfires and their smoke impacts, visit Washington Smoke Blog.
For details about the Bear Gulch Fire specifically, visit the fire’s Facebook Page or the Watch Duty Wildfire Information site: Bear Gulch Fire Map | Watch Duty