As of September 13th at 1:30pm, power is restored in the town of Skykomish

Estimated size: 9,440 acres
Containment: 5%
Start Date/Time: 9/10/2022 at 5:15 am
Area of Origin: King Co. North of Skykomish
Cause: Under Investigation
Structures Damaged: one out-building

The Bolt Creek Fire started on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 5:15 am near Beckler Road. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock, assumed management of the fire from Western Washington Incident Management Team 3 this morning. Team 8 appreciates all the hard work completed by firefighters and Western WA Team on this fire to date.

Yesterday, the fire was moderately active and backing downhill toward the Highway 2 corridor. Individual small columns of smoke were visible from Highway 2. The fire remained north of Highway 2 except at the Money Creek Tunnel where fire burned directly on top of the tunnel. Visibility was adequate to safely launch a heavy helicopter to provide water bucket drops to check the fire spread. The fire has burned down to the highway in multiple locations and firefighters worked along the highway to prevent the fire from crossing. Firefighters completed structure protection in Baring and Grotto by creating defensible space and installing hose lays to protect buildings if fire moves into the area. Night shift firefighters tactically applied fire on either side of the Money Creek Tunnel on Highway 2 to provide a secured black line to the highway. Night shift firefighters also patrolled and monitored the fire for any flare-ups.

Today, additional firefighting resources are arriving to work on the fire. Heavy equipment including feller bunchers, masticators, and chippers will be utilized to clear brush and fuels along roads that will be used as primary or alternate fire lines. Firefighters will work along Forest Service Road (FSR) 6510 and Beckler Road removing fuels to use as a holding feature on the east edge of the fire. FSR 6022 (Heybrook Lookout Road) from Highway 2 to the Index-Galena Road along the west fire perimeter will also be prepared as a holding line. Night shift will continue to provide patrols and monitor fire activity.

Weather and Behavior: Conditions today will be cooler with temperature 58-64°F, minimum relative humidity near 87%, and excellent humidity recovery overnight. Winds will be light becoming northwest at 5-6 mph in the afternoon. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, mainly to the east.

Fuels remain dry and the fire will move primarily where wind and slopes align in steep terrain. The fire is still capable of large runs if winds increase above 25 mph. However, high winds are not currently predicted. Fine fuel moistures are increasing as moisture and relative humidity increase.

Evacuation and Road Closures: Highway 2 remains closed east of the junction of Index-Galena Road and Highway 2 to the junction of 5th St N into the town of Skykomish.

Level 3 evacuations – Go! - in place for Index. Level 2 evacuations – Set – in place between Index and Zeke’s Drive-In. Level 1 evacuations – Ready – in place between Zeke’s Drive-In to Gold Bar east city limits.

Current Evacuation and road closures can be found at: https://bit.ly/snocowildfire. Fire managers understand the inconvenience and desire for residents to return to their homes. Please avoid the fire area as hazards have not yet been mitigated. The sooner the hazards have been mitigated, the sooner the public will be able to return.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad has coordinated with fire managers to reopen the tracks for limited use. Retardant has been applied in locations where fire could approach the tracks and sprinklers have been deployed on wooden bridges in the fire area.A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Bolt Creek Fire. Please review the Notice to Airmen in its entirety. Please help the firefighters by respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t!

Sheltering: Snohomish County and the American Red Cross are providing indoor shelter and RV slots at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, located at 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe. For shelter assistance, proceed to the Weikel Building at the fairgrounds or RV Lot 2. Staff will be on-site to assist you. Assistance is also available at Start-up Event Center.

Resources: 379 personnel – 1-type 1 hotshot handcrew, 4-type 2 initial attack hand crews, 1-type 2 handcrew, 3-dozers, 45-engines, 2-masticators, 5-water tenders, and 109 overhead.

A new incident was reported yesterday, the Chetwoot Fire. This incident is many miles south of, and is not associated with, the Bolt Creek Fire. Even though the area received scattered precipitation, new fire starts are very possible. Remember, “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire.”

Bolt Creek Fire Information Update, September 12, 2022

Incident Commander: Kent Stafford, Bob Gear
Phone: 360-370-4170
Email: 2022.boltcreek@firenet.gov
Facebook: facebook.com/skyvalleyfire

9 AM, September 12, 2022

Estimated size: 7,660 acres
Containment: 2%
Start Date/Time: 9/10/2022 at 5:15 am
Area of Origin: King Co. North of Skykomish
Cause: Under Investigation
Structures Damaged: one out building
Resources: Over 317 personnel

Update: The Bolt Creek Fire started on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 5:15 am near Beckler Creek Road. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Southeast Washington Incident Management Team 3 will transfer command of the fire to the larger Type 2 team, Northwest Incident Management Team 8, on Tuesday morning.

The fire remained north of Hwy. 2 and exhibited minor growth over night.  Crews worked through the night, primarily along Highway 2, doing structure protection.  Crews are experiencing fallen trees and rocks coming onto Hwy. 2 creating driving hazards.  Crews are working on removing debris and identifying potential hazards along Hwy 2. Additional crews and resources are arriving to work on the fire, including heavy equipment to clear brush along forest roads, including the FS 65 Road, to be used as fire line. Crews will continue to protect communities and infrastructure by building fire lines.

Evacuation and Road Closures: US Highway 2 will remain closed East of the town of Index to the town of Skykomish.

Level 3 evacuations – Go! - in place for Index. Level 2 evacuations – Set – in place between Index and Zeke’s Drive-In. Level 1 evacuations – Ready – in place between Zeke’s Drive-In to Gold Bar east city limits.

Current Evacuation and road closures can be found at: https://bit.ly/snocowildfire

Sheltering: Snohomish County and the American Red Cross are providing indoor shelter and RV slots at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, located at 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe. For shelter assistance, proceed to the Weikel Building at the fairgrounds or RV Lot 2. Staff will be on-site to assist you.

Bolt Creek Fire Information Update, September 11, 2022

Incident Commander: Kent Stanford
Facebook: facebook.com/skyvalleyfire

2 PM, September 11, 2022

Estimated size: 7,600 acres
Containment: 0%
Start Date/Time: 9/10/2022 at 5:15 am
Area of Origin: King Co. North of Skykomish
Cause: Under Investigation
Structures Damaged: one out building
Resources on fire: Over 240 personnel

Update: The Bolt Creek Fire started on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 5:15 am near Beckler Creek Road. Overnight, the fire spread toward the town of Index and is estimated to be 7,600 acres. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Crews worked through the night, primarily along Highway 2, doing structure protection. Crews will continue to protect buildings by building firelines to push the fire away from those communities.

SEWA Incident Management Team 3 will transfer command of the fire to the larger Type 2 team Northwest Incident Management Team 8, over the next few days.

Evacuation and Road Closures: US Highway 2 will remain closed East of the town of Index to the town of Skykomish.

Level 3 evacuations - Go! - are in place for Index. Level 2 evacuations - Set- are in place between Zeke’s Drive-In to Gold Bar. Level 1 evacuations - Ready - are in place from Zeke's Drive-In to Gold Bar east city limits.

Current Evacuation and road closures can be found at: https://bit.ly/snocowildfire

Sheltering: Snohomish County and the American Red Cross are providing indoor shelter and RV slots at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, located at 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe. For shelter assistance, proceed to the Weikel Building at the fairgrounds or RV Lot 2. Staff will be on-site to assist you. 

US Highway 2 is closed east of Index through Skykomish

Bolt Creek Fire Evacuations:

Level 3 evacuations – Go! -  Index.

Level 2 evacuations – Set - Be Prepared to Evacuate at short notice - between  Index and Zeke’s Drive-In.

Level 1 evacuations – Ready - Zeke's Drive-In to Gold Bar east city limits. 

Bolt Creek Fire Evacuations

Level 3 evacuations – Go! -  Index.

Level 2 evacuations – Set - Be Prepared to Evacuate at short notice - between  Index and Zeke’s Drive-In.

Level 1 evacuations – Ready - Zeke's Drive-In to Gold Bar east city limits. 

Bolt Creek Closures and Evacuations

Closures: US Highway 2 will remain closed east of the town of Index to the town of Skykomish.

Bolt Creek Fire Evacuations and Levels

Level 3 evacuations – Go! -  Index.

Level 2 evacuations – Set - Be Prepared to Evacuate at short notice - between  Index and Zeke’s Drive-In.

Level 1 evacuations – Ready - Zeke's Drive-In to Gold Bar east city limit.

 Fire closures and restrictions can limit access for hunters – Know Before You Go! 

 Moose and Owl Fire Daily Update                        September 16, 2022 
Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM                Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8249/

INCIDENT STATISTICS

Moose Fire 130,079 Acres, Containment 50%, Personnel 857

Owl Fire 747 Acres, Containment 0%, Personnel 44

Along Ridge Road and the Diamond Line, heavy equipment operators work to remove log decks and maintain the suppression line. Drones will fly over sections of the fire to locate areas of heat. This allows hand crews the opportunity to safely find and eliminate these heat spots. Hand crews are going direct on these hot spots in the Stormy Peak area and within the Salmon Watershed south of the powerline. Firefighters are improving contingency containment lines along Williams Creek Road through chipping and dozer line construction. Structure protection, patrolling, and mop-up operations will continue in the Leesburg area and along the powerline where crews can safely work. Crews are finishing mopping and securing along the 300 Road to the west of Leesburg.

Great Basin Incident Management Team 1 took command of the Owl Fire last night. Engine crews and firefighters are protecting threatened structures in the area. Drones and firefighters are assessing areas to reduce growth.

We are expecting scattered showers and thunderstorms over the entire fire area today. Firefighters and others traveling along Salmon River Road may face hazards including falling rocks and weakened trees. Equipment operators along the Salmon River Road will quickly respond in case of rock falls or other debris that may roll down from the steep, recently burned slopes above it.

EVACUATIONS: Zones 1, 11, 12, and 13, the Beartrack Mine, and Leesburg are moved to "SET" status in the CodeRED system as determined by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office. The Incident Management Team will continue to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to consider additional changes to the evacuation status over the next few days, depending on weather. Additional details are at: https://bit.ly/LemhiCountyEvacs

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order was updated on September 9. The closure includes the area north of Williams Creek Road (FR-021), Deep Creek Road (FR-101), and certain roads, trails, and a defined geographic area around the fire. Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-509. This closure applies to hunting access, firewood cutting and gathering, fishing, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities

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• Stage 1 Fire restrictions are in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, BLM, and State of Idaho lands in

Custer and Lemhi Counties, excluding wilderness areas.

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Visit our website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnf, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow’ Us on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF 

Summary: The Owl and Horse fires are under the command of Wyoming Type 3 Team 5. Both fires are zero percent contained. The Owl Fire is estimated to be 747 acres while the Horse Fire is at 391 acres. Between the two fires there are 67 personnel including 4 Engines, 1 Crew, 1 Fire Module, 1 Ambulance, 2 Fireline Paramedics, and 1 Overhead Team.

Yesterday: Crews finished brushing and improving Owl Creek Trail - #6152 and East Owl Creek Trail #6153. The weather cleared enough for a recon flight over the Horse Fire and a portion of the Owl Fire. As a result, a more accurate map of the Horse was produced, which showed an increase in acres with light to moderate fire severity.

Today:  Fire personnel will continue to build and strengthen containment lines on the southern portion of the Owl Fire. They will continue to identify opportunities for treatment options. This evening the command of the Owl Fire will transfer to the Great Basin Team 1, who is also managing Moose Fire. On the Horse Fire, crews will work to identify and evaluate protection points and tactics to keep the fire off private and within the Wilderness. The Horse Fire will transfer to a Type 4 organization. Both incoming teams will be shadowing today and assume command this evening at 08:00 pm this evening.