Published Thursday, September 15, 2022, 1830 hours PT

Fire Update 6

SKYKOMISH (KING), WASHINGTON STATE

Incident Summary: The Bolt Creek Fire is located between Beckler River and Index, about 1.5 miles north of Skykomish and in the vicinity of Mt. Baring in Washington State at 0515 hours PT.

Staffing: The command of the incident is under the management of the NW Team 8, an Type 2 IMT. Resources include a total of 431 personnel with the numbers changing each day, one Type 1 hotshot hand crew, five Type 2 IA hand crews, one Type 2 hand crew, three dozers, 42 engines, two masticators, five water tenders, and about 136 overhead personnel.

FIRE FACT | According to the Northwest Coordination Center, there are 15 large wildfires burning in the northwest with six in Oregon and nine in Washington State.

Credit: NWCC

Cause: The fire ignited from an unknown ignition on September 10, 2022, just before 0800 hours PT.

State Fire Staffing Approved: On Sunday, September 11, 2022, the Washington State Patrol/Fire Marshal’s Office approved the mobilization of state resources. These men and women are being deployed from all over Washington State, Alaska, and 28 other United States.

Incident Cooperators:

  • CEDR
  • Snohomish County DEM
  • WA State EMD
  • Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
  • Team United MMA
  • Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
  • San Juan Island Fire & Rescue (3 FF/EMTs with Brush 31)
  • Skagit District 3 (Wildland Team)
  • South County (Lynnwood)
  • Snohomish County Fire District 5 (Sultan)
  • WSDOT North (Traffic Updates and closures)
  • WSP Trooper Jacob Kennett (PIO)
  • Pacific Crest Trail Association (Hiker News)
  • Mountain View Fire & Rescue (Brush 398 staffed by Acting LT Holm & FF Wake.)
  • Sky Valley Fire
  • Snohomish County Government
  • King County Sheriff’s Office
  • Redmond (WA) Fire (Mobile Integrated Health team)
  • Arlington/Stanwood Firefighters IAFF Local 3438 (FF/PM Johnson, a fireline medic)
  • NWIMT8
  • Chelan Fire & Rescue (Local strike team with Chief Asher (Strike TL) and Brush 79 with FFs Fogelson, Simpson, and Odenrider)
  • Fall City Fire Department (Brush 152 with four FCFD members deployed with the King County Zone 1 Task Force)

Current Status: Fire behavior remains moderate with flanking, backing, and creeping. Its estimated size is around 9,440 acres (no infrared flight for two nights) and has a 5% containment status.

Damage Assessment(s): Structures remain threatened and firefighters have been working around the clock on structure protection of multiple buildings. One, however, has been damaged. CTD: $3.1 Million.

Closed:

  • US Highway 2, east of the junction of Index-Galena Road
  • Hwy 2, to the junction of 5th Street North, into the town of Skykomish

US Hwy 2 will be closed at least through Monday when the joint task force supporting this fire incident will be evaluating the situation again. This is milepost 35 Index and 49 in Skykomish. (WSDOT – 9/15/2022 1925 PT)

Challenges: The results of fire in the area and on the hillsides are causing challenges for firefighters and dangerous conditions for others, which include rock rails, rolling debris, and falling trees. Last night, a Douglas fir tree fell and slid downhill at a high speed across the highway and through the guardrail.

If the roadway would have been opened, drivers or first responders could have easily been hurt or killed! – Ed.

Credit: Chelan Fire & Rescue

Operations: Fire personnel and command continue to work hand-in-hand as one team to extinguish hot spots as the fire nears the highway and work to keep it from crossing over the roadway.

Evacuations: Are still in effect for:

– Level 2 (Set): Index – Residents can return home. 
– Level 1 (Ready): Between Index and Zeke’s Drive-In
– From Zeke’s to Gold Bar’s east city limits, no posted level. 
– Baring and Grotto and the area along U.S. 2 after milepost 48 (east of Money Creek tunnel) will remain at Level 3. Additionally, Forest Service Road 65 (Beckler River Road) is at Level 3. Skykomish will remain at Level 1. 

PCT Hikers/Info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pctwashington

Sky Valley Food Bank: Volunteers have been able to serve the upper Sky Valley, Index, Baring, Grotto, and Skykomish on Wednesday, especially knowing these communities have been hit hard.

Credit: Sky Valley Food Bank

Pre-made boxes of their favorite staples, fresh fruits, cases of bottled water, and sweet treats were given to anyone who needed them. Thank you to our local firefighters, and the MANY from across the state, who are here to help keep this tragic fire off our front door steps. You are appreciated.

Forest Road Closures: https://www.facebook.com/boltcreekfireinfo/photos/pcb.102980439240714/102979345907490

Smoke: Updated information on air quality may be found at Washington Smoke Blog at https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Sheltering: The Event Center in Startup is providing indoor shelter at 14315 366th Ave, SE, Startup WA, 98293.  The Red Cross Shelter at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds is closed.  For Red Cross assistance, please call 1-800-RedCross.

Air Space Restrictions: 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!

Hashtags: #WAwildfire2022 #BoltCreekFire

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