Credit: U.S. Forest Service U.S. Forest Service via the Tacoma News Tribune
Campfires banned at Mount Rainier National Park as 1,200 acres burn near Packwood
The National Park Service implemented a parkwide fire ban in an effort to reduce the risk of starting a wildfire amid weather that is ripe for fueling blazes.
From The Olympian:
The National Park Service has banned all campfires and the ignition of other materials, including barbecue grills, at Mount Rainier National Park in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfires as the 1,200-acre Goat Rocks Fire burns outside the park. The parkwide fire ban, in effect since Friday, comes after the Goat Rocks Fire southeast of the national park picked up steam on Friday due to strong winds, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
The blaze, roughly five to seven miles east of the town of Packwood, was started by lightning on Aug. 9 and had initially been knocked down by fire crews, although they could not completely contain it because of steep and dangerous terrain in the Goat Rocks wilderness area, the NWCG said.
An air quality alert in place until 6 p.m. Sunday warned of unhealthy air in Pierce and three nearby counties due to wildfire smoke, with the worst conditions expected over Snohomish and northern King counties, according to the NWS.
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Thank you so muchfor the local news updates!
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