Forest fire flares up in the Olympics as weather turns hot, dry

A forest fire sparked by lightning a week ago in Olympic National Park flared up Friday as conditions dried out.

The fire on Mount Hopper reached 120 acres in size Friday afternoon, according to officials with Olympic National Park.

The fire started Aug. 5, but it remained small because of wet conditions. Fire officials have kept the fire under observation since then and were assessing the risks from the air late Friday afternoon.

As the fire grew, smoke was reported from as far away as Seattle on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Washington Department of Natural Resources issued a warning for people to be extra cautious with campfires and equipment that could spark a fire, given expected high temperatures and dry fuels.

"Over the next few days, I'm especially concerned about the potential for wildfires in areas west of the Cascade Mountains because of the dry, easterly winds that are expected along with unusually hot weather," said Joe Shramek, manager of DNR's Resource Protection Division.

Recreational campfires are a major issue, he said, adding that DNR crews have responded to numerous unattended campfires that had not been completely extinguished in recent weeks.

Before leaving a campfire, people must make sure the fire is completely out and cool to the touch.

A statewide burn ban on public and private forests makes an exception for recreational fires in approved fire pits where a bucket of water and a shovel are available for quick response.