Bear Gulch Fire
The human caused Bear Gulch Fire began the evening of July 6, 2025. The fire started approximately 15 miles northwest of Hoodsport, WA, along Lake Cushman, on steep, rocky slopes in Olympic National Forest.
Dry, hot weather and easterly wind events in mid-August and mid-September fueled cycles of sudden expansions and increased fire behavior. Ultimately, the fire expanded to 20,233 acres, crossing into the Staircase area and deep wilderness of Olympic National Park along with some adjacent private lands—making it the largest wildfire on the Olympic Peninsula since 1951.
During suppression efforts, Olympic National Forest partnered with federal, state, county, tribal, and local entities to prioritize public safety and protect critical values. After months of coordinated response, the fire was declared 100% contained on November 12, 2025.
Photo Gallery
Photos and maps provided throughout the fire are available on the incident's Inciweb page and Facebook.
After the Fire
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Findings
The BAER program rapidly addresses post-wildfire hazards to protect life, property, and critical natural and cultural resources.
BAER teams—made up of specialists such as hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, and archeologists—assess burned areas and implement emergency stabilization treatments to reduce risks like flooding, erosion, and debris flows.
Soil Severity Map
The Soil Burn Severity map categorizes areas affected by a fire based on the degree of heating and damage to soil properties. These maps guide post-fire emergency response by:
- identifying areas prone to erosion, runoff, and debris flow
- prioritizing soil stabilization and recovery efforts
- informing watershed-hydrology predictions and resource protection strategies
Debris Flow Combined Hazard Map
A Debris Flow Combined Hazard map illustrates areas at risk for debris flows by integrating both the likelihood of occurrence and the potential volume of material mobilized. These maps guide post-fire emergency response by prioritizing areas for interventions—such as:
- erosion control
- sediment barriers
- post-fire infrastructure protection