As of 6:00 am Sunday, October 23, 2022, the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest will assume management of the Suiattle River Fire and the Boulder Lake Fire, because no further significant activity is anticipated on these fires based on current and expected weather forecasts. 

If you have questions or need addition information, please contact the Darrington Ranger Station during normal business hours at 360-436-1155.

Loch Katrine Fire, Suiattle River Fire, and Boulder Lake Fire

Daily Update, October 22, 2022, 10:00 AM

Fire activity on the Loch Katrine, Suiattle River, and Boulder Lake fires has been limited by the recent rain showers, cooler temperatures, and high-elevation snowfall. The last IR flight was on October 19, so acres have not been updated.

Loch Katrine Fire, Suiattle River Fire, and Boulder Lake Fire

Daily Update, October 21, 2022, 10:00 AM

The Loch Katrine Fire is at an estimated 1,918 acres (no IR flight on October 20). Yesterday’s cool, cloudy, and humid conditions, combined with the smoke layer, dampened fire behavior to smoldering. This allowed crews to make significant progress. Crews will continue to construct and strengthen containment lines: parallel to Highway 57, along the Phillippa Creek drainage, and in Sunday Creek. Hose lay continues in the Big Creek drainage. Assessments are being conducted to identify suppression repair points in preparation for those efforts.

FIRE UPDATE 10/20/22 @4:00 pm:

At the recommendation of the Incident Command of the Suiattle River Fire, Skagit County has lifted all evacuation orders for the nearby homes along the Suiattle River. Residents should be aware that some risk remains regarding debris flows associated with the incoming rain.

Please note that Forest Road 26, also known as Suiattle River Road, will remain closed at this time for ongoing fire prevention and mitigation efforts.

Loch Katrine Fire, Suiattle River Fire, and Boulder Lake Fire
Daily Update, October 20, 2022, 11:00 AM

The Loch Katrine Fire is at an estimated 1,918 acres. Crews continue efforts in the area of Sunday Creek, working north and west to tie the fireline down into the Sunday Creek canyon. They are going direct on the edge of the fire where possible and indirect to construct and strengthen containment lines. Yesterday, hose was laid and plumbed to bolster the line in the Big Creek drainage. Crews are constructing fireline parallel to highway 57 and using bulldozers in the Phillippa Creek area, between the two lobes of the fire, to strengthen containment.

Suiattle River Fire is now at 4,272 acres. The fire has 0% containment, but is being held in check by fire crews and natural barriers. The primary objectives on the Suiattle River Fire are to minimize impact to private structures and property, Bureau of Land Management land, high-value timber land, and Forest Service infrastructure (Suiattle Guard Station, Buck Creek Campground, and the Darrington Seed Orchard). Firefighters have been successful at stopping fire spread along Forest Service Road 26 and the Suiattle River. A total of 64 fire personnel are suppressing the fire. Aviation assets are available to support firefighters on the ground as needed in areas where water drops can be effective but aircraft were unable to fly yesterday due to limited visibility.

Boulder Lake Fire is at 2,317 acres and continues to be most active on the west flank above Big Creek. Fire managers are assessing tactics that will minimize potential impacts to values including private land and those managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Evacuation: Level 3(GO) evacuations are in place for the Suiattle River Fire in the Lower Suiattle River Valley. No other evacuations are currently in place for the other fires.

Weather: Today will be cloudy and cool with a chance of light rain. Winds are light and variable and may become stronger from the west as a front comes in today through tomorrow.Smoke: Smoke and haze from the nearby fires may reduce visibility and air quality for most of the day. Smoke column may be visible from both the I-90 and I-405 highway corridors.

Closures: For public safety, the Suiattle River Road is closed at the junction with Highway 530. Due to their proximity to the Suiattle River Fire, the Darrington Ranger District has closed the Suiattle River Road (Forest Road 26) Recreation facilities and trails: Buck Creek Campground, Boulder Lake Trail, Huckleberry Mountain Trail, Buck Creek Trail, Green Mountain Trail, Downey Creek Trail, Suiattle Trail, Sulphur Creek Trail, and Sulphur Mountain Trail.

Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8447/ ● facebook.com/MtBakerSnoqualmieNF ● fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbs/alerts-noticesFire Information Line: 425-386-1354, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Email: 2022.lochkatrine@firenet.gov

Loch Katrine Fire, Suiattle River Fire, and Boulder Lake Fire

The Southeast Washington Incident Management Team will complete their tour and will no longer be updating the information on this page after 6pm on Friday -10/21/2022.

Information for the Murphy Lake Fire may be obtained from:

Skykomish Ranger District Office
Mon-Fri: 8am - 430pm
(360) 677-2414

NOTICE: This will be the last update provided by the Southeast Washington Type 3 IMT

HIGHLIGHTS:  Command will transfer to a Type 4 Team from the Washington Department of Natural Resources at 6am Saturday. No further updates available on inciweb and Facebook pages after 6pm tonight.

Hwy 2 is open but may be subject to intermittent closures and delays if debris falls onto the road. Closure information and status changes are at WSDOT  real-time travel center and by @wsdot_traffic on Twitter.

Precipitation and colder temperatures will significantly suppress fire activity. Fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor containment lines today. Precipitation over the weekend may create additional hazards associated with flash flooding, mudslides, and debris flows in the vicinity of the burn area.

Bolt Creek Fire: 14,766 acres | 51% contained | 157 personnel assigned

Containment increased to 51% and containment will continue to improve. Minimal fire activity expected to continue due to cool, moist conditions.

Murphy Lake Fire: 444 acres | 1 person assigned

Minimal fire activity over the last 24 hours. Cool, moist conditions today and through the weekend will further suppress fire activity.

Weather: Significant precipitation is forecast beginning today and continuing overnight with accumulation approaching 2 inches in the next 24 hours. Periods of precipitation are expected to continue into the middle of next week. Snow is expected above elevations of 3800 to 4200 feet.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed between Deception Lakes (mile 2447.5) and Hope Lake (mile 2457) due to the Murphy Lake fire. For more information: Pacific Crest Trail Association Web Page  The Surprise Lake trail that begins off of Hwy 2 and the Trap Pass Trail are also closed.

Smoke Information: Current information on air quality may be found at Washington Smoke Blog

Forest Closure and Restrictions: The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has issued an Emergency Closure on National Forest lands. Roads, trails, and campgrounds are closed. A burn ban remains in effect.

HIGHLIGHTS:  Hwy 2 is open but may be subject to intermittent closures and delays if debris falls onto the road. Road closure information and status changes are posted in the WSDOT  real-time travel center and by @wsdot_traffic on Twitter.

Increasing humidity ahead of an approach storm will damper fire behavior today. Friday will bring precipitation and colder temperatures that will further suppress fire activity and potential spread. Fire crews continue to monitor containment lines and retrieve unneeded suppression equipment. Precipitation over the weekend may create additional hazards associated with flash flooding, mudslides, debris flow in the vicinity of the burn area.

Bolt Creek Fire: 14,766 acres | 43% contained | 189 personnel assigned

Containment increased to 43% and approaching the containment objective of 50%. Containment now extends from near Baring southeastward along Hwy 2 and up Road 65 to the Beckler River Campground. Efforts are now transitioning to monitoring containment lines and retrieving suppression equipment. Fire crews continue to be released from the incident as fire and weather conditions continue to improve.

Murphy Lake Fire: 444 acres | 1 person assigned

The fire had minimal spread over the last 24 hours with 29 acres of growth. Most of the growth is a result of the merging of the main fire and the spot fire to the north. Anticipated rain, snow and cooler temperatures are expected to suppress fire behavior and prevent further growth starting on Friday.

Weather: A shift to westerly flow and increasing cloud cover will moderate temperatures and increase humidity today. Winds will be light and variable with diurnal upslope/downslope trends today, and gradually increase and become more southerly in advance of the approaching storm. The forecast for Friday through the weekend is for cool and wet conditions as a weather system brings substantial rainfall with snow at elevations above 3000 feet.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed between Deception Lakes (mile 2447.5) and Hope Lake (mile 2457) due to the Murphy Lake fire. For more information: Pacific Crest Trail Association Web Page  The Surprise Lake trail that begins off of Hwy 2 and the Trap Pass Trail are also closed.

Smoke Information: Current information on air quality may be found at Washington Smoke Blog

Forest Closure and Restrictions: The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has issued an Emergency Closure on National Forest lands. Roads, trails, and campgrounds are closed. A burn ban remains in effect.

HIGHLIGHTS:  Hwy 2 is open but may be subject to intermittent closures and delays if debris falls onto the road. Road closure information and status changes are posted in the WSDOT  real-time travel center and by @wsdot_traffic on Twitter.

Unseasonably warm and dry conditions will promote moderate fire activity and potential spread through Thursday; however, precipitation and cooler weather will put a damper on fire activity and spread starting Friday. Fire crews are monitoring containment lines, mopping up hotspots and retrieving unneeded suppression equipment as local fire conditions allow.