OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A topographic map of the Queets River basin released today shows how the Paradise Fire has moved easterly from its initial lightning-caused spark near Paradise Creek.
Smoke from the 1,238-acre fire now can be seen from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, which is mile-high about 17 miles south of Port Angeles. Neither the visitor center nor any other structures are threatened by the fire, which began in May.
Warm temperatures, low humidity and dry conditions created favorable fire conditions Thursday, according to a fire update issued this morning.
The update continued:
“Relative humidity reached its lowest point of the week at 31 percent. Vegetation in the Paradise Creek drainage and around an unnamed creek immediately to the east were the locations of the most active burning. Both creeks flow off of Pelton Peak on the northern portion of the fire. Crews have been successful in confining the fire north of the Queets River and to the west end of the existing fire perimeter.
“The weather forecast calls for continued warm and dry conditions favorable for fire activity in the late afternoon and early evening. Smoke is expected to impact local communities in the coming days. The public is advised to monitor fire information sources for the latest news on the fire, and general smoke information may be obtained from www.WAsmoke.blogspot.com.”
Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest and Clallam and Jefferson fire agencies have banned outdoor burning and are restricting or banning barbecues and other fires depending on the agency.
Fireworks are illegal on federal and state lands.
Information on the Paradise Fire in the Queets River valley is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4305/.
For real time information, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paradise-Fire/831205013596015.
