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Wildfire near Crystal Mountain continues to grow

The Crystal Mountain resort was under a level 3 evacuation Monday night due to the Norse Peak fire burning north of State Route 410 near Union Creek.

As of Tuesday, more than 19,000 acres had burned and containment was at 8 percent.

The fire has been burning to the east of the resort for more than two weeks and the wind has changed direction and is causing smoke to shift to the west, a post on the Crystal Mountain website said.

There have been reports of ash from the wildfire falling in Pierce County, Seattle, Covington, Everett, Issaquah, Kent, Renton Highlands and North Bend.  The National Weather Service Seattle said the ash fall is mainly in Pierce County and the south edge of King County. Easterly winds coming out of the mountains has brought the ash over to those areas.

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On Monday night, resort officials said the fire is still active and everyone has been evacuated. Firefighters have pulled out and will asses the fire Tuesday morning.

Smoke and poor air quality from the fire had closed the resort earlier in the day.

All hiking trails in the area are also closed.

Hotel guests, condo and home owners and delivery services are allowed access to the resort, but all other traffic is being diverted at the base of the boulevard.

Crystal Mountain Hotels (Quicksilver, Village Inn & Alpine Inn), the Snorting Elk Cellar and the Alpine Inn Restaurant will remain open for overnight guests.

About the Norse Peak fire

Thirteen fires were started by lightning on August 10 and 11, in the area of the William O. Douglas and Norse Peak Wilderness Areas on the Naches Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Two of the fires have reached significant size and remain active: the Norse Peak Fire (burning north of State Route 410 near Union Creek, and the American Fire burning between SR410 and Bumping Lake. The fires are being managed collectively as “Norse Peak.”

The fires are burning in steep rocky terrain that is difficult access.

Find the latest information on the fire at this link.

Cox Media Group

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