NORTH CASCADES, Wash. – The growth of a wildfire in rural Snohomish County has slowed, allowing some mandatory evacuations to be eased.
Days after the blaze sent residents and hikers scrambling to leave, some residents in the town of Index are being allowed back to their homes.
However, those same people are being asked to prepare to leave again at a moment’s notice.
Officials said on Tuesday, September 13th, that movement of the Bolt Creek Fire had slowed in the past 24 hours.
The fire started Saturday, September 10th, during hot, dry and windy conditions.
It had burned nearly 15 square miles as of Tuesday and had burned down to U.S. Highway 2 in some areas.
Meanwhile, the Chilliwack Complex fire, east of Mount Baker, is still burning over 6,000 acres.
And the the larger Pasayten Fire, east of Ross Lake, is now burning almost 17,000 acres.
Those two backcountry wildfires have closed trails and campsites across the North Cascades National Park.