Highway 2 will remain closed between Index and Skykomish through at least Monday, as crews battling the Bolt Creek fire work to clear fallen debris and secure trees and boulders at risk of crashing onto the roadway.
The closure could last longer. Emergency response personnel will gather Monday morning to evaluate whether the highway can be safely reopened.
Rachel Lipsky, a spokesperson for Northwest Incident Management Team 8, stated officials are announcing that the stretch of highway heading toward Stevens Pass will remain closed so drivers and residents can plan accordingly.
“We want to give folks a little bit of lead time on planning, especially for those who have left the area and want to come back for whatever reason,” Lipsky said.
Recent weather patterns have worked in crews’ favor as they try to control the fire, which has burned an estimated 9,440 acres as of Thursday.
