7/24/2015 Update Paradise Fire

 

Fire Information: 360-797-5366

Fire activity on Wednesday was subdued. There was light white smoke production. The weather predictions over the fire the next couple of days are a 60% chance of rain. This will help the fire stay on the ground and should keep the tree torching that occurred yesterday down.

The fire is in a remote area of the wilderness requiring a twelve mile hike therefore, the firefighters must camp as close to the fire as safety will allow. They are following the "Leave No Trace" principles in an effort to help protect the park and preserve the park experience future visitors.  "Leave No Trace" is a program initiated to minimize human impacts on the environment. The firefighters maintain a camp clean of garbage and prevent encounters with bear by keeping food and garbage in bear and wildlife resistant cans and boxes. Theses are commonly referred to as "bear cans or bear boxes". They are supported by helicopter air drops which bring them supplies and haul back their garbage.

The Paradise fire will continue to burn and smoke into the fall months. It will take fall rains or a fire season ending event to saturate the ground below the thick forest canopy before this fire can be extinguished.

Residents of the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park visitors should still pay attention to burn bans.  Any rain is not expected to be significant enough to reduce the overall fire danger.  If you are camping, check the burn ban information at www.waburnbans.net for the most up-to-date fire restrictions for each federal, state, and local jurisdiction.  Propane cooking stoves are allowed on most recreation lands on the Olympic Peninsula.

In Olympic National Park, fires are NOT allowed in the backcountry including coastal beach areas.  Small campfires are only allowed in established front country campgrounds, in the metal fire rings.

For real time information, visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paradise-Fire/831205013596015. Basic information is also available on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4305/.  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.