Lightning starts 2 fires in Mount Rainier National Park

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK -- Two fires caused by lightning strikes were burning in Mount Rainier National Park's backcountry Tuesday, the National Park Service said.

The Shadow Lake fire is located near Sunrise and the Scarface West Fire is near Grand Park, a park news release said, adding that  no structures were immediately threatened.

The Shadow Lake fire is a half-acre in size including several small spot fires. A fire crew is actively suppressing the fire.

The Wonderland Trail between White River Campground and Sunrise is closed as a safety precaution, the park service said. An alternate route is recommended via Glacier Basin and Second Burroughs.

Sunrise Camp, White River Campground, and Sunrise remain open.

The Scarface West Fire is about one-tenth of an ace in size. The park is currently monitoring this fire, which, the park service said, was discovered by a Puget Sound fire patrol flight. There are no closures in place in the vicinity of this fire.

Resources assigned to the fires include a 'helitack' crew and a park fire crew.