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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
Additional overflights yesterday showed that the Paradise Fire continues to burn in the wilderness of the Queets Valley. More accurate mapping now shows a fire size of 367 acres. The fire is located about 12 miles upvalley from the Queets River trailhead, well within the park boundary. The fire's cause remains unknown. The fire continues to burn slowly along the Queets River near its confluence with Paradise Creek in an area of very tall centuries-old trees, making suppression activities difficult and very dangerous for firefighters. Burning limbs and snags as well as the rugged terrain make fire suppression challenging in this area.The Queets River Trail is closed at Bob Creek until further notice to protect public and employee safety. A ten-person wildland fire crew from the Klamath National Forest in northern California will arrive today and is specifically trained in evaluating conditions, risks and impacts associated with wilderness fires, along with developing options for fire management and suppression. "Human safety is always our top priority in fire management," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum. "When suppressing fires in wilderness, we carefully consider potential impacts to wilderness character as well." The short term weather forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and possible showers this Friday. The extended forecast is for warmer and dryer conditions into the summer. "The current drought conditions and long-term forecast will also be a major consideration as we address this fire strategy," said Creachbaum. For more information about fire management in Olympic National Park, people should visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/management/fire-management-1.htm An update and more information about the Paradise Fire in Olympic National Park will be released Thursday morning. |
Last updated: June 17, 2015