PORT ANGELES — Fire crews are actively battling several small fires sparked by a weekend storm across Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest. Despite visible smoke drifting into nearby communities, officials report that no structures are currently threatened, and no new evacuations or closures have been necessary.

An evening reconnaissance flight on August 19 over the eastern and northern Olympic Peninsula did not detect any new fire activity. Fire officials urge residents to report any signs of smoke or new wildfires by calling 911.

But Jared Low from the National Park Service says it’s been difficult to get a good look at potential hotspots due to cloud cover and dense forest areas.

“The recent rain and cloud cover are complicating aerial search efforts. We can’t fly due to cloud cover and poor visibility. So it’s kind of delayed the aerial assessment fire crews are planning on conducting more reconnaissance as weather conditions improve. So right now the Olympic interagency Fire crews are responding to one active confirmed fire. It’s on the national forest. Just a little bit West of Lake Cushman called the Lightning Peak fire, but we’re still waiting to see what may be out there more in the interior of the park and forest,” said Low.

In Olympic National Forest, two small lightning-caused fires, the Townsend 1 Fire and the Lightning Peak Fire, are under close management. The Townsend 1 Fire, roughly one-tenth of an acre, has been mostly contained after an engine crew and helicopter were deployed for suppression. Follow-up checks are planned to ensure it is fully extinguished. The Lightning Peak Fire, located in steep and rugged terrain, is being primarily fought with aerial resources, given the difficulty of ground access.

The lightning storm on August 18 followed a prolonged drought, increasing fire risks across the region. In response, a strict campfire ban remains in place for Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest, and state conservation lands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, the 2620 Road Fire west of Brinnon in Jefferson County continues to grow, now covering about 400 acres and is 8% contained. Fire officials said the winds from this weekend’s thunderstorms caused the fire to expand by approximately 50 acres. It is burning in a recently logged area with steep terrain.