EASY PASS, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Easy Fire burning near the North Cascades Highway has doubled in size over the past few days.
The incident response team says the fire has now spread to over 1,500 acres amid hot, dry conditions and increased winds.
That caused crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation to close the highway earlier this week between milepost 148 at Granite Creek to milepost 157 at the Easy Pass Trailhead.
Firefighters are actively removing trees and debris from the shoulders of the roadway that have rolled downhill. No evacuations have been announced, but the team says anyone recreating in the area should be cautious of their surroundings.
The fire is still 0% contained and is expected to burn into October.
Fire officials say the nearby Pioneer Fire has moved within 100 feet of buildings in Stehekin, but has not burned any structures yet.
