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US 2: Hwy 2 is open but may be subject to intermittent delays if debris falls onto the road. Washington State Department of Transportation crews continue to partner with the incident command team managing the fire. Road closure information is posted in the WSDOT  real-time travel center and by @wsdot_traffic on Twitter and updates will be provided as road status changes.

Fire Update: On the Bolt Creek Fire firefighters have strengthened and consolidated containment lines along most of Hwy 2 and the Beckler River Road. Road preparation and chipper operations continue on the western end of the fire to control movement westward towards the Index area. A Structural Protection Group completed assessment plans and remains focused on protecting structures, particularly on the east side of Index and along the Index-Galena Road, if the fire becomes more active. The fire will continue to produce smoke as it burns to the north into Wild Sky Wilderness.  Unburned areas within the fire are increasingly dried out by unseasonably warm temperatures and low humidity.   

Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the fire area for low relative humidity and easterly winds. The Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. today through 5 p.m. Sunday. A combination of moderate breezes, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to rapid rates of spread and down-wind spotting on existing fires.

Evacuation Guidance: The Red Flag Warning has prompted a Level 1 Evacuation Guidance (Be Ready) for the Baring and Index areas. Please see more information here: https://bit.ly/3T7dLfN .

The Murphy Lake Fire began from a lightning strike on August 18 and has grown to 88 acres. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCTA) 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 Facebook Page  The Surprise Lake trail that begins off of Hwy 2 and the Trap Pass Trail are also closed.  Fire officials will continue to monitor the fire situation. 

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

Forest Closure: The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has implemented an Emergency Closure on National Forest lands. Roads, trails, and campgrounds are closed. To read the closure in its entirety, please see:  MBSNF Bolt Creek Fire Closure. A burn ban remains in effect until significant rain is received.

The USFS Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) report for the Bolt Creek Fire can be found on the Inciweb page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/8429/. 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources has issued a Wildfire-Associated Landslide Emergency Response Team Report at:https://www.dnr.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ger_hazards_landslide_walert_report_bolt_creek_suiattle_boulder_toketie_2022.pdf