QUEETS — The Paradise Fire grew by 504 acres between Thursday and Sunday and as of Monday had scorched a total of 2,292 acres in the Queets River Valley in southeastern Olympic National Park, according to new measurements by fire managers.
Hot, dry weather contributed to the fire’s growth, and the blaze is now burning toward the northwest.
The new fire activity followed the riverbed west and north from the where the fire was sparked by lightning May 14.
The fire — considered slow-moving — has grown by 1,020 acres since July 3 and is the largest wildfire on record since Olympic National Park was created.
On Monday morning, the fire remained east of Bob Creek and north of the Queets River.
Bob Creek has been designated by fire managers as the western containment line, a natural barrier where firefighters have a chance to stop the fire from moving farther west into less controlled areas.
The fire is currently 21 percent contained by natural barriers north of the Queets river and inside the Queets River Valley’s rocky ridges to the east.
The fire’s wilderness location, terrain and the size of the trees and other vegetation limit on-the-ground tactics that can be used to fight the blaze.
It is expected to burn until the end of September, when rains and possibly snow should put an end to the flames.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.