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Olympiic National Park fire nearing 500 acres October 3rd, 2003 (Port Angeles) -- The Griff fire in the Olympic National Park has been fanned by winds and has grown to 475 acres. A third helicopter has been requested to battle the blaze along with an air operations unit with a separate aircraft that will direct the fire fighting helicopters. Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes says the winds make the helicopter work more risky and less effective. Mayes says the two helicopters yesterday dropped about 45-thousand gallons of water on the fire The fire is burning in rugged high country at four thousand feet elevation northwest of Hurricane Ridge, where warm, dry weather is predicted to continue over the weekend. Park officials have closed several trails and portions of roads for
public safety. Hurricane Ridge Road is closed just beyond the Hurricane
Ridge Visitor Center, but the center remains open.
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