Unprecedented Fire Rages In One Of The Nation's Wettest Regions

NPR

Published July 14, 2015 at 1:12 PM EDT

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The Paradise fire is burning in Olympic National Park in the Queets River. While it may seem unusual to have a fire of this size burning in a rain forest, this is a reflection of severe conditions - the driest spring in over 100 years and a snowpack that was only 14% of average. (Courtesy National Wildfire Coordinating Group)

The region known as the wettest place in the lower 48 states is on fire. Washington State’s Olympic National Park, characterized by lush foliage, massive hanging ferns and spongy lichens, is experiencing the worst wildfire in the park’s history — a blaze that has consumed 1,600 acres and is not expected to be under control for another two and a half months.

The unprecedented fire is being blamed on the severe drought that has plagued the western United States, from California to Alaska. Ashley Ahearn, a reporter with Here & Now’s contributor KUOW, joins Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson to discuss the latest on the blaze.

Reporter

Ashley Ahearn, reporter with KUOW and part of EarthFix Public Media Collaborative. She tweets at @aahearn.