U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel are actively responding to the Grand Park 2 Fire burning in Mount Rainier National Park, the National Park Service reported Aug. 8.
Acreage, containment percentage and cause of the fire were not immediately available. Mount Rainier is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most visited national parks, drawing approximately 2 million visitors annually.
The fire comes during peak visitation season as hot, dry weather has driven multiple simultaneous fires in the North Cascades region. The Border 2 Fire at North Cascades National Park stood at an estimated 6,983 acres as of Aug. 7, according to the NPS.
No evacuation orders were reported at Mount Rainier at the time of publication. Park visitors are advised to check with rangers and the park website for current conditions and any closures.
Active fire season conditions across the Pacific Northwest have stretched firefighting resources. Multiple fires burning simultaneously in national parks and forests require coordinated deployment of crews, aircraft and equipment across the region.
Mount Rainier’s glaciated volcanic peak, old-growth forests and alpine meadows are among the most valued natural resources in the National Park System. Wildfire in the park poses risks to both the ecosystem and the surrounding communities in Pierce and Lewis counties.