SKYKOMISH, Wash. — 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 evacuation — meaning to leave now — has been issued for residents north of Highway 2, from Skykomish to Index, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. Specifically, evacuations are in place from Eagle Falls on the west end to Beckler River Road on the east.
UPDATE: **Level-III: MANDATORY Evacuation**
The wildfire has now reached DNR Level III. Anyone from Skykomish to Index, north of Hwy 2 needs to evacuate immediately.
Call 911 if you need assistance. Updates will be provided as they become available. https://t.co/QrrygtChjk
— King County Sheriff’s Office PIO (@kingcosoPIO) September 10, 2022
There is also a Level 2 evacuation in place for Index, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. This is an evacuation warning or notice and residents in this area should prepare for a high probability of a need to evacuate.
A Level 1 evacuation is in place for Skykomish, according to Snohomish County Fire District 26.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations are in place for approximately 300-400 homes, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
State fire assistance has been mobilized to support local firefighters working to contain the Bolt Creek Fire, according to the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered 3 strike teams to assist local resources in battling the fire.
As of 1:50 p.m., State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel were enroute to the scene to coordinate the dispatch of resources.
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.
The fire started at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday 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.
Highway 2 is closed from milepost 31.7, approximately two miles east of Gold Bar, to milepost 49, at the east end of Skykomish, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The US 2 closure now extends from milepost 31.7 (east of Zeke’s Drive In and Gold Bar) to milepost 49 (east end of Skykomish). The road is only open to people evacuating. Please continue to monitor @wspd7pio, @kingcosoPIO and @waDNR_fire for evacuation/fire info. #BoltCreekFire
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 10, 2022
Residents who need to leave the area will still have access to the roadway.
Drivers are advised to turn around well ahead of the closures and expect heavier traffic than usual on other cross-state highways, including Interstate 90 and State Route 20, during the wildfire response.
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.
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