Stretch of US 2 reopens after crews fly helicopters to attack Bolt Creek Fire hotspots

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — A section of U.S. Highway 2 has been reopened after helicopters flew over the Bolt Creek Fire to attack hotspots on Sunday, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.

The roadway was closed in both directions from mileposts 46 to 49 beginning at 12 p.m. until it reopened around 2 p.m., as crews cleared the road of debris.

At 4:30 p.m., WSDOT announced the highway was closed again between mileposts 46 and 50 for helicopters to combat the Bolt Creek Fire.

At 7:20 p.m., WSDOT announced that the highway had reopened but said further unplanned closures are possible.

“In a normal year, we have trees fall. Now with fire damage in addition to that, we’re not sure what it’s going to look like. So I would expect to see times where this has to happen again,” said Bolt Creek Fire operations section chief Scott Sorenson.

Sorenson said heavy rain is the only way that the northern parts of the fire will be extinguished.

Residents of Index and Baring are now under Level 1 evacuation guidance, meaning “be ready to leave, just not yet,” due to the possibility of increased fire activity in the area, according to the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.

No evacuation guidance is in place for residents in other occupied areas of Snohomish and King counties.

According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, the estimated containment date for the entire fire is set for Monday, Oct. 31.

Firefighters have been focusing on containment lines along the fire’s perimeter but have been letting the flames burn out in areas where there are no structures and the terrain is extremely dangerous.

The fire is estimated to have burned 14,068 acres and is 41% contained.

For updates on the Bolt Creek Fire, visit the Snohomish County Public Safety Hub website.

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