Single Publication

Bolt Creek Fire Update
October 6, 2022 
Western Washington Incident Management Team 3

Incident Commander: Gene Phillips
Estimated size: 12,863 acres Cause: Human; Under investigation Containment: 36 percent
Resources: 149 personnel – Two type-2 initial attack hand crew, one hand crew, 15 engines, one dozer, two water tenders and 76 overhead.

US 2 Is Open: At this time, US 2 is open throughout the fire area. A planned closure occurred - Wednesday, Oct. 5 - from 10 am to 6 pm between mile markers 44 and 50 for hazard tree removal and successfully removed approximately 120 trees. The intention of this extended closure was to limit the need for additional closures in the future. However, additional periodic flare-ups, material rolling near the road, or hazardous trees on or along the road may force temporary short closures or reroutes. Crews are still working throughout the area so as the weekend approaches and traffic increases please drive at the posted reduced speeds through the fire area.

Fire Update: Wednesday saw very limited growth – only about 100 acres – despite continued warm and dry conditions over the fire area. As it did yesterday, a heavy marine layer today will moderate temperature and raise humidity, although warmer and drier conditions are likely to return tomorrow and persist for the next few days which may contribute to more fire spread in addition to more smoke production. Other fires in the North Cascades are also contributing to the smoke lingering over the area, which is likely to persist through the week as there are no winds forecasted to help disperse it. What wind there will be will shift to an easterly light wind which will likely move smoke westward toward Bellevue and Seattle. Containment lines on the south, east and west edges of the fire—namely, along US 2 and near structures—continue to hold well as the consumption strategy is allowed to continue. While the fire will continue to produce smoke as it burns to the north into Wild Sky Wilderness, firefighters remain engaged along containment lines to ensure that the fire stays in its footprint on its southern edge, as well as the southwest and southeast corners. Aviation is available – as weather allows - and may be used today to make bucket drops to cool hot spots on the south and west of the fire. Suppression activities are still ongoing to increase containment, and repair of damage caused by suppression activities will continue in some areas of the fire that have seen little fire activity in recent days. These activities include chipping vegetation, repairing hand/dozer lines and other actions that will help to mitigate future erosion. In addition to suppression repair activities, the BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) Team will continue watershed assessments in the fire area into early next week. For more information on the BAER Team’s ongoing assessment of the fire area, including identifying any potential values at risk of potential post-fire flooding and deciding what emergency stabilization measures to take, check out their Inciweb page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8429/

Weather: Thursday will again bring slightly higher humidity and cooler temperatures due to a heavy marine layer but warmer and drier weather will return and persist for the next few days. A prolonged period of nearly-record high temperatures continues through the end of this coming week. Highs will be around 70 on ridges and upper slopes and in the lower- to mid-80s in valleys. Humidity will be 25 to 35 percent and winds will be light from the east, including to Bellevue and Seattle.

Evacuation guidance: Due to the current reduction in fire danger, all previous evacuation orders have been lifted.

Smoke: In addition to Bolt Creek, there are 2 wildfires that continue to burn east of the Cascade Crest and contribute much of the smoke in the area. Current information on air quality may be found at Washington Smoke Blog athttps://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Forest Closure: The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has implemented an Emergency Closure on National Forest lands. Roads, trails, and campgrounds are closed. To read the closure in its entirety, please see: MBSNF Bolt Creek Fire Closure. A burn ban remains in effect until significant rain is received. Please refrain from burning.

Fire Information Phone: (360) 370-4170 Email: 2022.boltcreek@firenet.gov
Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8417 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boltcreekfireinfo