7/9/2015 Paradise Fire Daily Update

Paradise Fire Update 

July 9, 2015

For Immediate Release
360-797-5366                                     

There was not a lot of visible activity on the Paradise Fire again yesterday although one of the three spot fires south of the Queets River showed some residual heat.  Firefighters quickly and successfully worked the hot spots with water. Aircraft were grounded until late morning when the marine layer burned off over the fire area and things heated up.   Despite the morning's cooler air, some fire activity was observed north of the Queets River,  northeast of Pelton Ridge. There were some snags, whose root systems had burned, that fell across the river. The trees did not carry fire across the river but that possibility is something for which the fire modules will watch. Fire managers ordered an infrared scanning flight last night to look for residual heat. 

Today is likely to have a cool start again followed with relatively warm temperatures and low humidities expected in the afternoon again. There could be some fire activity  as the day heats up, but it's expected to be minimal with little spread.  Cooler weather with higher humidity or even rain is expected for this coming weekend which should aid in efforts to minimize fire spread. Rain will not extinguish the fire, but it will reduce activity.

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. Because of the extreme conditions on the peninsula, Olympic National Forest and local communities have also implemented fire restrictions. Please check the regulations for areas near you.

Information on this fire 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.

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Paradise Fire Information Staff

360-797-5366