7/15/2015 Paradise Fire Update A.M.

The Paradise Fire was relatively quiet.  No additional growth was observed yesterday.  However, some hot pockets of burning fuel were seen and the possibility of increasing activity remains as the weather warms and dries.  The southern boundary near the Queets River is looking very good.  Most hot spots are on the mid to upper slopes, well away from the river. Fire managers are confident that the fire will show some growth in the days ahead but expect that any increase in activity will move the fire north and east, and away from areas of concern.

Future actions on the fire will be determined in part by data being collected by the  Mt. Hebron and Tushar Mountain Wildland Fire Modules.  These two highly skilled and versatile fire crews, have technical and ecological based expertise in fire behavior that will help fire managers make decisions that achieve fire containment objectives and ecological benefits.

How long will it burn?  That's a tough question to answer.  It is not safe or effective to put firefighters on the upper slopes ahead of the anticipated movement of the fire.  On-the-ground firefighters will continue to assure that the fire remains confined to the area north of the Queets River and east of Bob Creek.  It will take a great deal of moisture over a long period of time to put this fire out.

How is the fire affecting park visitors and park neighbors?  Currently smoke is minimal and can only be see in the vicinity of the fire. The upper portion of the Queets River Trail is closed, but all other trails are unaffected by the fire.  When fire activity increases in response to warmer and drier weather, smoke may increase and be seen from other areas including the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, some of the park's wilderness trails, and may drift down drainages to areas outside of the park.

The open fire ban is still in effect.  Olympic National Park officials would like to remind the public that there is a ban on open fires in the park's wilderness backcountry, including all locations along the coast. Campfires are permitted only in established fire grates at established front country campgrounds.

More information is available on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4305/.  For real time information, visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paradise-Fire/831205013596015. For current information about visiting Olympic National Park, as well as information about the history and role of fire in the Olympic ecosystem, please visit the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/olym