7/5/2015 Paradise Fire Update

Paradise Fire Update 

July 5, 2015

For Immediate Release
360-797-5366

Weather conditions continued to challenge firefighters on the Paradise Fire on Saturday, as high temperatures and low humidity created very active fire conditions. The eastern end of the fire flared up after having been relatively quiet the last few days, burning until after 9 pm. Late in the afternoon, fire spotted south of the Queets River. While air support was hampered by smoky conditions, firefighters were able to get hose and pumps around the three spots and will continue to focus on that area on Sunday. Today is expected to bring deteriorating fire weather conditions before things moderate on Monday. The Paradise Fire remains in a remote location of the Park, far from any roads, structures, or communities. There have been no new maps or acreage estimates due to the inability to get infrared mapping flights.

Smoke from the Paradise Fire was very visible from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center in the Park, and a high thin haze was seen in many communities across the upper Olympic Peninsula. Since smoke from wildfires can travel great distances, it is sometimes difficult to gauge which fire is producing smoke in a given area. With dozens of wildfires in Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington, communities can expect to see smoke on a regular basis for the time being.

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.

Paradise Fire Information Staff

360-797-5366