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Heat wave worsens Bear Gulch Fire still burning in Mason County, WA
Crews continue to battle the human-caused Bear Gulch Fire in Mason County, which has now been burning for seven weeks with little containment.
MASON COUNTY, Wash. - Crews continue to battle the human-caused Bear Gulch Fire in Mason County, which has now been burning for seven weeks as of Aug. 24. Another 200 acres burned overnight into Monday, Aug. 25.
What we know:
Fire officials said aerial resources dropped water onto the flames. Because of this, there is a temporary flight restriction in place over the Bear Gulch Fire. "If you fly, we can't," read a section of the Before You Fly government page.
Ground crews have been actively patrolling, using sprinklers, and mopping up hot spots. To prepare for further defense, personnel are felling trees to create fuel breaks and installing sprinkler systems around properties.
How big is the Bear Gulch Fire?
By the numbers:
As of Monday morning, the fire has burned 8,702 acres since sparking on July 6 and is 13% contained. Just 24-hours earlier, the fire burn area was about 200 acres smaller, at 8,517.
There are 434 fire resources deployed to fight the blaze, including seven helicopters. No structures have been damaged.
Fire activity spiked on Saturday amid hot and dry conditions across Washington. The scorching temperatures in Seattle are forcing residents outside in the country's second least air-conditioned city.
The Public Information Team with Fire Net reports that potentially record-breaking heat and unstable atmospheric conditions will bring in fresh, hot air to the fire zone and increase activity. For this reason, the area remains under a Red Flag warning until 9 p.m. on Monday.
Later in the week, a low-pressure system will develop off the coast of Alaska, bringing in cooler and more humid air to ease the risk of fire spread.
Lake Cushman closures and evacuation notices
Local perspective:
The Mason County Sheriff's Office is also helping with firefighting operations on the north end of Lake Cushman. Homes near Dry Creek Trail remains restricted with a Level 3 "GO" evacuation status as of Aug. 25. The MCSO is keeping the area south of Dry Creek at a Level 2 "BE SET" notice.
The southern half of the lake is open for recreation as of Aug. 25.
Additionally, all outdoor burning is banned in Mason County. Many roads, trails, and campgrounds are shut down in the Olympic National Park area. More information is available at the National Park Service fire conditions and updates page.
Where are the fires in WA? Here's a map of the wildfires burning across the state
Here's a look at the current wildfires burning across WA and where they are on the map.
What caused the Bear Gulch Fire in Mason County, WA?
The Mason County Sheriff's Office said the fire was human-caused, and the Olympic National Forest is seeking tips for how the fire started on July 6. Tips can be submitted to the Forest Service Tipline by calling 541-618-2154 or by email at SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov. Tips submitted via email should have the subject "Bear Gulch."
The public can check for updates on the Bear Gulch Fire 2025 Facebook page.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Mason County Sheriff's Office, National Park Service, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service and InciWeb.
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