About 400 acres of private timberland was ablaze Wednesday night east of Lake Ozette.
Although seven fires were burning in what has been dubbed the Olympic Complex, no homes or other structures were in danger Wednesday, said Fire Prevention Specialist Paul Hampton of the state Department of Natural Resources’ Olympic Region in Forks.
The cause of the fires, the largest of which is approximately 300 acres, remains under investigation, Hampton said.
Several helicopters and about 300 firefighters have been dispatched to the blazes that broke out Tuesday night, he said.
As of late Wednesday, the fires were only about 10 percent contained.
Hampton said he believes the fires are currently the largest wildfires in the state.
“It’s about the only show going in the state right now of any size,” he said Wednesday.
Continuing high fire danger have prompted Natural Resources officials to extend the year’s legal wildfire season to Oct. 22.
The typical fire season spans from April 15 to Oct. 15, officials said.
————
The rest of the story appears in the Thursday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.
