Bolt Creek Fire re-closes 3 mile stretch of US 2 near Skykomish
Sep 27, 2022, 6:36 AM | Updated: 8:54 am
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) says crews closed U.S. 2 between Northeast Old Cascade Highway and Skykomish overnight Monday. (Photo from WSDOT)
(Photo from WSDOT)
US Route 2 is closed again because flames from the Bolt Creek wildfire were dangerously close to the roadway Monday night.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) says crews closed the highway between Northeast Old Cascade Highway and Skykomish overnight, a three-mile stretch between mileposts 46 and 49.
Evacuations updated as winds continue to spread Bolt Creek Fire
US 2 was previously closed due to fear of dangerously burned trees falling into the road that WSDOT was working to clear out, reopening Saturday, Sept. 24.
On Twitter, WSDOT shared photos of the flames cascading down a hillside toward the roadway.
Here is a closer look at the #BoltCreekFire just west of #Skykomish on US 2 tonight. Crews have closed the roadway between mile posts 46-49 overnight and will reassess the situation in the morning. https://t.co/ENiw2upBA8 pic.twitter.com/6s8EHXTCJR
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 27, 2022
The Bolt Creek fire, which has been burning since Sept. 10, has gone from 96% contained down to just 7% contained over the course of the weekend.
The fire is now estimated at 11,355 acres and 96% of operational objectives have been completed, according to officials.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, some areas east of Skykomish, along with residences north and south of US Route 2, are under a Level 1 evacuation notice, meaning to start preparing to leave.
Fire officials did not change evacuation levels because of the closure. It remained a Level 2 for most areas, meaning residents should prepare to leave, if the situation worsens. A full list of evacuation orders can be found on the Snohomish County website.
A fire weather watch was put in place in the area for 72 hours, starting Monday, as “unseasonably high temperatures nearing 85 [degrees] and critically low relative humidity dipping below 20%” along with 15-20 mph winds.
Officials say the unusually hot, dry, and windy conditions have hampered crews’ efforts to contain the fire.
Fire officials plan to reassess the situation later Tuesday morning.
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