Paradise Fire update August 5th

On Tuesday fire personnel scouted the area for a place to insert a “pumpkin”, a portable water tank, which will support suppression activities. Utilizing a special filter to pump water from the streams to the pumpkin will ensure protection of the aquatic species during this historically dry year. Bucket drops from the helicopter were used to increase the relative humidity on the western flank of the fire resulting in no noticeable fire spread on Tuesday.

 

Helicopter operations will continue today, as weather allows. Crews will be preparing necessary equipment to set up a sprinkler system near the western flank of the fire to increase the relative humidity in an ecosystem that is typically extremely humid, helping meet our confine-contain strategy.

 

The incident commander and a field observer will conduct fuels sampling today while initial attack crews continue to patrol the west side of the park for any potential new starts.
Park managers closed the Queets River Trail at Spruce Bottom campsite for public and firefighter safety. Updates will be posted to Inciweb, Facebook and Twitter.

 

Although smoke is a concern to many, the fire continues to burn in an area that is not immediately threatening life or property

 

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.

 

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.