Bolt Creek fire near Skykomish prompts evacuations, road closures
Sep 10, 2022, 10:42 AM | Updated: Sep 12, 2022, 12:50 pm
The Bolt Creek Fire, which started north of Skykomish on early Saturday morning, has grown to approximately 2,000 acres, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
A Level 3 — or leave now — evacuation has been issued for residents from Skykomish to Index, north of Highway 2, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone in the area need to evacuate immediately.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations are in place for approximately 300 – 400 homes, according to DNR.
Due to a large wildfire, a DNR Level-II evacuation order (‘ready to leave at a moment’s notice’) is in place from Skykomish to Baring (north side of Hwy 2). Any persons needing assistance should dial 911. KCSO and/or Skykomish Fire will offer updates as they develop. pic.twitter.com/0KVfRXAME2
— King County Sheriff’s Office PIO (@kingcosoPIO) September 10, 2022
A state mobilization request has been approved for the fire.
The fire is currently very active and wind conditions are making it difficult for crews to extinguish the flames, according to officials with Snohomish County Fire District 26.
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The fire started in a clearing north of Skykomish and is now moving west. As of 10 a.m., the fire is not at the town of Skykomish, according to King County officials.
“A large wildfire along the north side of US 2 from just outside Skykomish to Baring is threatening homes. Residents of the area should be ready to evacuate with little notice,” said King County officials in a tweet posted just after 10 a.m. “If residents along US 2 between MP 35 and 47 have not been notified by authorities to evacuate, be ready to leave. Local law enforcement is going door-to-door to notify residents.”
Washington State Patrol troopers are assisting deputies with the Snohomish County and King County sheriff’s departments in evacuating these areas.
Just east of Gold Bar, #Highway2 is closed due to #BoltCreekFire. The smoke is so thick out here, I gagged when I stepped out of my car – feels like when you’re camping and you stick your head too close to the campfire. Sky changed from hazy to truly fire-colored around Monroe. pic.twitter.com/C1a9iGwOFV
— Nicole Jennings (@nicoleKIROFM) September 11, 2022
Highway 2 is closed from Index-Galena Road to Beckler River Road until further notice, but residents who need to leave the area will still have access to the roadway, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Travelers are advised to avoid the area and expect heavier traffic than usual on other cross-state highways including Interstate 90 and State Route 20.
Wildfire activity has closed US 2 on the west side at MP 36. We don’t know how long this closure will be and the closure points may change. With no local detour, you should use US 97 Blewett to I-90 Snoqualmie for cross state travel today and please be fire wise! pic.twitter.com/cdi0cJBQMI
— WSDOT East (@WSDOT_East) September 10, 2022
Smoke and ash from the fire are blowing westward toward Snohomish and King counties. All counties in Washington are currently under some form of burn ban, with windy conditions and warm weather raising fire concerns.
This is a developing story.
