Paradise Fire Update
Thursday, July 16, 2015
For Immediate Release
360-797-5366
The Paradise Fire on the Queets River in the Olympic National Park is still burning. The lightning-caused fire, which started in May, was discovered in June and the decision was made to suppress the fire because it occurred so early in the fire season and because of the extremely dry conditions.
The fire is in old-growth rainforest that contains extreme amounts of dead wood and vegetation on the ground, including some downed logs over six feet in diameter. Many standing dead snags pose a hazard to ground crews. Firefighters determined that it was unsafe and ineffective to fight this fire using direct methods such as building a fireline with hand tools. A confinement strategy was developed to use the Queets River as a natural barrier on the south and use portable pumps and hose to prevent further movement to the west toward the park's boundary. It is anticipated that the fire may continue to move upslope to the north and burn itself out as it moves into higher and less vegetated topography.
The weather has been an ally. Last weekend the fire received some rain and coastal fog and clouds. This has greatly slowed any movement in the fire. However, concentrations of fuel continue to burn and pose a risk to further spread as the weather dries. To date, the fire has not moved significantly since the rains.
A remote location. Helicopters have been used to ferry supplies into firefighters on the ground as visibility allows. Since this suppression effort may continue for many weeks, firefighters are also improving 12 to 15 miles of the Queets River Trail to allow an Olympic National Park mule team to provide necessary support, and to provide an escape route for firefighters if needed.
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
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