Racing the Flames: Fast-growing wildfire forces evacuations near Snoqualmie Pass & Kachess Lake

A lightning-caused wildfire six miles west of Snoqualmie Pass is growing and threatening cabins at the north end of Kachess Lake.

The Three Queens Fire ignited back on July 15th.

But Friday night, it grew by about 400 acres to 883 acres, due to high winds.

It is 0% contained.

According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, authorities issued a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order for people in cabins and camp areas around Cooper Lake, about three miles northeast of Kachess Lake.

Kittitas County deputies are actively working to notify people in the area that they need to leave.

A Level 2, “Get Ready To Leave” advisory is in place for areas south of Cooper Lake and west of Salmon La Sac Rd., including all areas accessible from the Cooper River Rd. system.

Areas in red are Level 3, “Go Now” evacuations. Yellow is Level 2, “Danger Probable”. And the green areas are Level 1, “Be Ready”. (Map Courtesy Inciweb Incident Information System)

Officials have also issued evacuation warnings for cabins along Baker Lane, north of the end of Kachess Lake Rd.

A Level 1 evacuation warning, meaning be ready to go, was issued for the area west of Salmon La Sac Rd., and south from Little Salmon La Sac campground, to the southern end of Forest Service Road 4310 west of Lake Cle Elum.

Authorities have reported a multi-agency team managing the fire response and monitoring the potential risk to the Via Kachess and Kachess Ridge communities.

So far, no evacuation warnings have been issued for those communities.

Several campgrounds and trails have also been closed due to the risk of the fire spreading further.

The U.S. Forest Service has issued the following advisory:

• The US Forest Service is preparing an emergency closure of forest lands to protect the public and the safe conduct of operations to contain the Three Queens Fire.
• The Kachess Campground on Lake Kachess is closed along with the boat launch providing access to the lake.
  Roads: Cooper Pass Road, FSR 4600, is closed from its junction with Cooper River Road, FSR 4616, to Mineral Creek Trailhead.
• Box Canyon Road, FSR 4930, is closed from the junction with Gale Creek Road, FSR 4948, to the Rachel Lake Trailhead.
• Trails: Rachel Lake Trail 1313 is closed from the Trailhead to Rampart and Lila Lakes.
• Little Kachess Trail, FST 1312, is closed from the Kachess Campground to the junction with Mineral Creek Trail.
• Mineral Creek Trail, FST 1331, is closed from the Trailhead to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, FST 2000.
• Public lands, roads, and trails on the west side of the Cle Elum River are closed, including Red Mountain Campground, Owhi Campground, and dispersed camping areas at French Cabin Bridge. Lands to the east side of Highway 903 remain open at this time, including Salmon la Sac Campground and Fishlake Road.