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Forest Service warns of above‑normal wildfire risk; Olympic National Park reports record visitors and summer operations
Summary
The U.S. Forest Service and Olympic National Park briefed Clallam County commissioners on an above‑normal wildfire season forecast, staffing changes, and ongoing planning for active forest management and recreation. Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs said key visitor facilities are open and the park expects heavy visitation this summer.
Officials from the U.S. Forest Service and Olympic National Park told the board that preseason forecasts and staffing changes warrant continued interagency coordination for wildland fire response and visitor safety.
The Forest Service representative summarized National Interagency Fire Center predictive services indicating an above‑normal probability of large and costly wildfires on the Olympic Peninsula from July through September. The Peninsula is described as abnormally dry; the Climate Prediction Center projects above‑average temperatures and below‑average precipitation for the summer. The Forest Service said engines and a wildfire module are fully staffed and the unit recently hired a fuels technician to help plan fuels projects.
The Forest Service and county discussed staffing challenges across federal, state and local partners. The Forest Service said fewer incident management teams are staffed this year compared with earlier years but that coordination with a Western Washington Type 3 incident management team and other mutual‑aid mechanisms provides contingency support. Forest officials described a program allowing some employees on deferred leave or retirement to return temporarily for fire assignments, which helps offset vacancies.
Forest Service staff also described the Northwest Forest Plan amendment process; the agency is reviewing public comments and expects regional staff to present summaries to local units soon. Forest lands in Clallam County include late‑successional reserve and adaptive management designations; amendments could change management options, the Forest Service said.
The Forest Service described a Good Neighbor Authority sale working with the Department of Natural Resources and said the agency is exploring strategies to create more predictable, steady collaborations for active management. Forest officials invited county road and revenue staff to future conversations about potential road‑work partnerships and revenue predictability related to stewardship sales.
Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs said Hurricane Hill, Deer Park and the Hoh remain open and that the park is pressing forward on rebuilding the Hurricane Ridge visitor day lodge; water‑system work is planned for the fall. She reported roughly 3.7 million visitors to Olympic National Park last year and said the park anticipates heavy summer use. Park staff are hiring seasonal workers and using volunteers and partner agreements to maintain services, she said.
Superintendent Jacobs and county commissioners discussed emergency planning: the park maintains tsunami and other emergency plans, conducts exercises and participates in mutual‑aid arrangements; she said the park wants more joint exercises and coordination with county emergency management to prepare for high‑visitor scenarios in large events. Commissioners and agency staff agreed to follow up on scheduling road‑and‑forest‑management and emergency‑planning conversations.
Commissioners asked about timber harvest plans and were told the forest plans to sell one Good Neighbor Authority sale this year and is evaluating active management opportunities over the next four years. Forest staff said they will follow up with county road and revenue staff to explore predictable approaches that could support both forest management and county needs for steady work or revenue.
