8/16/15 Paradise Fire Update (Olympic Peninsula, WA)

Paradise Fire Update - August 16, 2015

2440 Acres

Despite the cloudy weather on Saturday, the Type 2 Department of Natural Resources helicopter was able to fly and continued bucket drops on the western edge of the Paradise Fire.  Helicopter crews reported minimal fire activity and smoke.  The Olympic National Forest reports fireline has been completed and that mop-up operations have begun on the Gold fire.  This was achieved with assistance from Paradise Fire resources. Paradise Fire personnel are still assisting with the Cabin Creek Fire.

The Sequoia-Kings Wildfire Module will be leaving the Gold Fire today and beginning the insertion process of a 8 to 9 day operation on the Paradise Fire. By inserting the Wildfire Module, whom are specialized in wilderness fires, the inherent risk of flying crews in and out each day will be minimized.    

This weeks lightning storms have ignited fires all over the northwest including one new fire inside the Olympic National Park, the Hayes Fire, near the Hayden Pass Trail.  Crews will fly into the area today to evaluate the fire and begin suppression activities if they can do so safely.  

Smoke from fires around the region is carried in the upper level winds for hundreds of miles often settling over the park.  To see the most up to date weather patterns that are transporting the smoke, check out http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/land/fire.html or http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/sat_west.html

Fires are not permitted in the backcountry area of Olympic National Park, including coastal areas.  Campfires are only allowed in established front-country campgrounds in metal campfire rings.

For real time and detailed information, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paradise-Fire/831205013596015.

Fire informcation is also available on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4305/.  

Fire restrictions Olympic National Forest at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/olympic/home/?cid=stelprdb5192793

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