New Fires Push More Smoke Into Western Washington

SEATTLE — Fast-growing fires pushed more smoke across Puget Sound Saturday, prompting mandatory evacuations in several rural communities and closing two highway passes over the Cascades.

The Goat Rocks Fire ignited Friday in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and quickly burned more than 1,200 acres, evacuating neighborhoods east of Packwood near Mount Rainier. The fire's rapid growth amid red flag conditions led authorities to close Highway 12 between Packwood and the White Pass summit through at least the end of the weekend.

To the north, the Bolt Creek Fire ignited Saturday morning near Skykomish, ballooning in size from 20 acres to 2,000 acres by the afternoon. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents living from Index to Skykomish. Washington State Patrol worked with state transportation crews to close off 20 miles of Highway 2, from just east of Gold Bar to the east end of Skykomish.

The state Department of Natural Resources said a mobilization request was approved to help contain the blaze, with up to 400 homes located within the evacuation zone. The state Fire Marshal's Office said flames were burning in heavy timber and brush, threatening homes and Bonneville Power infrastructure.

State ecology officials said smoke from both fires would add to existing air quality concerns across Western Washington through the weekend, with the worst impacts likely in Snohomish and Lewis counties. Forecasters said smoke from a wildfire burning in Oregon would also filter northward over Washington, but ground-level impacts should be minimal.

"Thick mid-level smoke from the Cedar Creek Fire in Oregon is being pushed northward by shifting mid-level winds, and will overspread western Washington from south to north [Saturday]," wrote Matthew Dehr, the state's lead wildland fire meteorologist. "This smoke is elevated above ground level and should not contribute significantly to further reductions in air quality, but will actually help keep temperatures down a few degrees [Saturday] afternoon and limit the minimum [relative humidity] values experienced in the Puget Lowlands. "

The Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow tool showed air quality readings ranging from "unhealthy for sensitive groups" to "unhealthy" around Seattle and the Eastside by early Saturday afternoon.

Most of the region is still forecast to see some improvement in air quality by Sunday. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency expects most of King County to improve to the "moderate" range, with more clearing for most areas by Monday.

"Conditions will begin to improve for western Washington on Sunday, with Monday seeing a return of 'Good' air quality for most areas west of the Cascade crest," Dehr said. "Poor air quality will linger across eastern Washington into Monday, but will improve through the week."

Air quality alerts for Puget Sound and the Olympic region were due to expire at 6 p.m. Sunday. A red flag warning for Western Washington was set to expire at midnight but will remain in place along the west slopes of the Cascades until Sunday evening.

Residents can find updated air quality forecasts via the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and check for daily updates on the Washington Smoke Blog. Live wildfire smoke conditions are available using the EPA's AirNow tool.