Steep terrain, high winds, and dry conditions make Bolt Creek Fire difficult to contain

The Bolt Creek Fire has burned an estimated 7,660 acres and, while it's not unprecedented to have fires on the west side of the Cascades, there hasn't been a fire of this intensity or size in the area in recent memory.

The fire started early Saturday morning north of Skykomish. Residents who fled the path of the fire describe ash falling from the sky and smoke blotting out the sun.

Highway 2 is still closed between Gold Bar and Skykomish and an evacuation notice remains in place for Index.

According to Kent Stanford, incident commander for the Western Washington Incident Management Team, the steep terrain, strong winds from the east, and dry conditions have been difficult to contend with for firefighting crews.

"It has presented us with a serious challenge of trying to slow and contain this fire and save property," Stanford said.

However, Stanford said he is optimistic that an upcoming change in the weather and wind conditions will give firefighters a chance to protect structures and populated areas south of the fire.

"We think that's going to give us an opportunity here in the next two or three shifts to really secure the south end of the fire, and that is the area where all the residents are," he said.

Stanford said that, in general, fires in the Northwest are becoming much larger and more difficult to handle. This particular fire is burning through areas that haven't seen fire in recent history, so there is more fuel available.

"We've had a lot of contact and information with the local ranger district and the local DNR up here," he said, "and they've all told us that we haven't had a fire through here of this of this intensity and size in over 100 years. So there is a lot of fuel out there that's built up."

Stanford spoke to Soundside about the latest developments in the Bolt Creek Fire and the conditions that led to a fire of this size in Snohomish County.