QUEETS — Wet weather has kept down the activity of the Paradise Fire in the Queets River valley, according to Monday’s official activity update.
There were isolated showers in the area Sunday, and humidity was more than 95 percent.
The rain did not put out the fire.
Even an inch of rain cannot prevent smoke and then flames a week later, officials said.
Forest fires require “boots on the ground” workers who mix water into hot embers and burn roots under old stumps, officials said.
The Paradise Fire is expected to become more active when conditions warm up and dry out this week.
“An A-star helicopter arrived as a replacement with a seven-member helitack module,” the Monday update said.
“The module, from the Inyo National Forest (Calif.), brings experience with helicopter rescues on Mount Whitney and will help deliver supplies and gear to the firefighters along the Queets.”
The smoldering fire has burned more than 1,590 acres, primarily though dried moss and lichen in the tops of old-growth trees and in deep duff on steep hillsides.