Bear Gulch Fire burns along Lake Cushman, Pomas Fire sees significant growth

Bear Gulch Fire

Folks along the southeastern Olympic Peninsula and around the Puget Sound might've noticed a layer of haze Tuesday morning. 

The Bear Gulch Fire started Sunday evening in the Olympic National Forest along the northern shore of Lake Cushman and produced an impressive smoke plume Monday afternoon and evening.

Warm, dry weather fueled the fire on Monday and has burned approximately 200 acres, per the Olympic National Forest. 

Air quality near the LCMC Park on the east shore of Lake Cushman was UNHEALTHY Monday morning, with improvement to GOOD by Monday night. Air quality has since degraded and is back to UNHEALTHY conditions Tuesday morning.

Smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire from a camera in the southern Olympic Mountains. Image courtesy: DNR/Pano

Slightly higher relative humidity should limit fire growth on Tuesday but expect the fire to continue to produce smoke with the greatest impacts along Lake Cushman. Communities such as Hoodsport, Potlatch, and Skokomish may see periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, mainly in the morning hours.

For updates on the fire, follow the Olympic National Forest and the Mason County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.

Pomas Fire

Jumping over to the Cascades, the Pomas Fire continues to burn in the upper Entiat River valley. Monday was a very active day, with pyrocumulus clouds observed multiple times in the afternoon and evening, and an impressive smoke plume visible on satellite imagery.

Pyrocumulus clouds billowing above the smoke plume of the Pomas Fire Monday evening. Image courtesy: Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue

The fire grew approximately 415 acres on Monday, bringing the fire perimeter to 2,890 acres.

Despite the impressive smoke plume, air quality across eastern Washington is mostly in the green as the smoke aloft has remained aloft as it dispersed to the east.

The greatest smoke impacts from the fire will continue to be in the Entiat River valley, where UNHEALTHY conditions will continue to be possible each morning following active fire behavior. Air quality is expected to improve to GOOD in the afternoon.

Gusty winds Tuesday afternoon and evening followed by a dry cold front Wednesday may limit overnight drainage and actually reduce these smoke impacts, but these winds and low relative humidity will bring critical fire conditions to the region.

Apple Acres Fire

The Apple Acres Fire is approximately 3,410 acres and 70% contained. With Red Flag Warnings in place, fire activity may increase Tuesday and Wednesday. The remaining fuel the fire could burn is mostly comprised of grass, so any potential smoke impacts will be in the immediate vicinity of the fire.