WA wildfire forces evacuations south of Mount Rainier, shuts U.S. 12
U.S. Forest Service ordered evacuations of neighborhoods Friday and shut down highways and roads after the Goat Rocks Wilderness wildfire grew to an estimated 1,800 acres and spread to Coal Creek Bluff, within two miles of Packwood near White Pass in Lewis County.
As of the USFS update sent out at 8 a.m. Saturday, the Timberline, Goat Rocks, and High Valley neighborhoods east of Packwood have been required to evacuate. The remainder of the neighborhoods and businesses in Packwood are currently under a level 2 evacuation, and should be prepared to evacuate.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the White Pass School on Silverbrook Road in Randle.
U.S. Highway 12 is closed for about 20 miles from Skate Creek to milepost 151 near White Pass summit. Highway 123 is closed from U.S. 12 to Ohanapecosh Campground for all southbound travel, although travel to Mount Rainier National Park is still open. Forest Roads 4600, 4610, 4612 and all connected spurs and Trail #65 to Bluff Lake are all closed.
Fire crews from across Washington are helping to fight the fire and protect homes. A red flag warning is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday, meaning high temperatures, low humidity, and winds out of the east gusting up to 35 mph will encourage fire growth. Crews will focus on protecting life and property in and around Packwood, the USFS wrote in their Saturday morning update.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray remains activated to Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Goat Rocks Fire.
Mount Rainier National Park has implemented a park-wide fire ban for all campfires and the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbecue grills.
The Goat Rocks fire was discovered Aug. 9 after being started by lightning, and was partly suppressed by a rappel attack crew. It was estimated at 80 acres early this week, but the fire grew rapidly Friday during high winds.
More information is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8415/ or 253-260-4581.
Smoke from the fire blew into Thurston County Friday and remained Saturday, but the air quality index remained at moderate.
On Saturday afternoon, the Bolt Creek fire near Stevens Pass north of Seattle prompted evacuation orders for communities north and west of Skykomish and has closed Highway 2 over the pass.
The Kalama Fire burning about 80 acres in Cowlitz County also has prompted some evacuations.
This story was originally published September 10, 2022 at 12:36 PM with the headline "WA wildfire forces evacuations south of Mount Rainier, shuts U.S. 12."