Wet air slows growth of Paradise Fire, but more rain needed, firefighters say

Published 12:01 am Sunday, July 12, 2015

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Moist marine air that moved up the Queets River drainage is keeping the Paradise Fire quiet, with no significant growth reported up the rugged slopes of Pelton Peak, firefighters said Saturday.

Continued minimal growth for the backcountry rain forest wildfire was forecast through today.

The blaze on Thursday gained an additional 20 acres.

It has now consumed a total of about 1,600 acres and is about 21 percent contained.

Full containment isn’t expected until late September.

About 100 men and women are fighting the fire.

Firefighters predicted it would take significant rainfall over several days to seriously affect the fire, which can smolder for long periods in dry duff.

The blaze, sparked by a lightning strike on May 15, is about 31 miles east-northeast of Kalaloch and about 37 miles southeast of Forks.

Lichen helps spread

It has spread up tree trunks along lichen that has dried out for lack of rain.

Flaming chunks of lichen then fall to the forest floor.

Fire managers Saturday sent a 20-person fire attack crew from Oregon to join 10 members of the Washington Conservation Corps to improve the Queets River trail and allow pack animals to carry supplies from the trailhead to the fire.

On Friday, they had cleared about 2 miles of trail to pre-existing width using hand tools and chain saws, which are allowed for trail maintenance.

The trail had not been kept up for years and was blocked by overgrowth and fallen logs.

Improved ground access allows fire commanders to supply their crews in weather like Saturday’s, when a 700-foot ceiling over the river kept helicopters from operating.

Until Saturday, all personnel and supplies had been flown in.

Fire managers also developed contingency plans to help firefighters react when weather turns warm and dry again.

The plans identify natural barriers where firefighters could actively fight the blaze when it reaches them.

Their goal is to contain the fire within Olympic National Park and stop its spread south and west.

A ban on open fires continues 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.

More information is also available on InciWeb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.

For real-time information, including video footage from the fire scene, visit the Paradise Fire Facebook page.

For facts about the role that fire plays in the Olympic ecosystem, visit www.nps.gov/olym.