OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — The Paradise Fire has resumed its slow growth to the north, climbing very steep hillsides in the Queets River valley.
The fire’s area increased by 193 acres to a total of 2,796 acres by Wednesday morning, partially due to fire growth and partially to more accurate mapping, according to fire managers.
The Paradise Fire is burning through rainforest about 12 miles inside Olympic National Park boundaries in the Queets River valley.
Newly burned areas were limited to ridges in the Paradise drainage and east of Bob Creek.
Firefighters continue to use portable pumps and hoses with the support of helicopter bucket drops to reduce fire spread near Bob Creek on the southwest side of the fire.
The fire began in May.
■ The Hungry Fire is located near the Dosewallips area in the area of Olympic National Park’s Dose Forks Campground, a backcountry area about 16 miles northwest of Brinnon.
The fire remained at a half-acre area, and there were several “smokes” located within the fire’s boundaries.
■ The Kalaloch Fire, at about one-tenth of an acre, including a wooden retaining wall on Kalaloch Beach and portions of Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park.
The fire is contained, and an engine crew will monitor today.
An investigation is underway to specify the cause, believed to be from human activity.
■ The Stone Fire, at a half-acre area in Olympic National Forest, about 20 miles southwest of Brinnon, continues to produce smoke.
The fire will continue to be monitored, forest managers said.
Gold Cabin Complex
The two fires of the Gold Cabin Complex in Olympic National Forest, which were sparked by a July 12 lightning storm, remained in a mop-up phase Tuesday.
The Gold and Cabin Creek fires were renamed the Gold Cabin Complex as a single managed fire system.
Resources assisting with the suppression efforts include four hand-crews, two engines, two tree faller teams and two water tenders with assistance from Paradise Fire helicopters.
■ The Gold Fire, located near Bon Jon Pass 10 miles south of Blyn, remained at about 10 acres.
As a result of the Gold Fire, the Little Quilcene Trail remained closed from its trailhead to the Tubal Cain Trailhead, as well as the Mount Townsend Trail from the top of Mount Townsend to the Little Quilcene Trail.
Also closed are Forest Service Road 2820 and Forest Service Road 2820-100, all until further notice.
■ The Cabin Creek Fire, 3 miles northeast of Lena Lake and the Hamma Hamma campgrounds, remained at 10 acres Wednesday.
The Zion Fire, reported Aug. 12 on Mount Zion about 9 miles northwest of Quilcene, has been extinguished.
