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.
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