Question: when was the first time mount rainier erupted

title: Mount Rainier
text: Typically , up to five earthquakes are recorded monthly near the summit . Swarms of five to ten shallow earthquakes over two or three days take place from time to time , predominantly in the region of 13,000 feet ( 4 km ) below the summit . These earthquakes are thought to be caused by the circulation of hot fluids beneath Mount Rainier . Presumably , hot springs and steam vents within Mount Rainier National Park are generated by such fluids . Seismic swarms ( not initiated with a mainshock ) are common features at volcanoes , and are rarely associated with eruptive activity . Rainier has had several such swarms ; there were days - long swarms in 2002 , 2004 , and 2007 , two of which ( 2002 and 2004 ) included M 3.2 earthquakes . A 2009 swarm produced the largest number of events of any swarm at Rainier since seismic monitoring began over two decades earlier . Yet another swarm was observed in 2011 .