7/20/2015 Paradise Fire Update

The fire was active again yesterday (Sunday) because of the high temperature and lower humidity.  Though spread is slow, burning continues on the eastern end of the fire and in the upper reaches. According to firefighters, lots of heat remains within the fire's perimeter and unburned pockets continue to ignite when conditions are right.  Also, firefighters are observing a significant amount of needle-fall from scorched trees and this fire-dried litter poses a risk for reburning in previously burned areas.

"We're going to get some good assistance from Mother Nature in the coming week," said Incident Commander Jason Loomis.  "This should bring us periods of docile fire activity."  The weather forecast calls for maximum temperatures to drop by 15 to 20 degrees today (Monday) as a marine layer moves inland.  This will be followed by several low pressure systems during the week which will keep things cool and moist.  However, only very light and scattered showers are expected which will not be enough to put out the fire.  When drier and warmer weather returns, more fire activity is expected.

Firefighter safety remains the biggest concern with fire suppression activities in this old-growth area.  Personnel on the ground are finding extreme slopes, falling trees, and deep pockets of hot ash.  Suppression priorities remain to keep the fire north of the Queets River and west of Bob Creek.

Fire danger remains "High".  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 in developed campgrounds outside of the wilderness.

More information is available on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4305/.  For real time information, including still images and video of the fire, 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