Hwy 20 closed
Hwy 20 closed
Hwy 20 is closed in both directions from mile post 148, Granite Creek Bridge to mile post 158, just east of Rainy Pass due to fire activity.
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navisradwick1
- Posts: 660
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 9:09 am
Re: Hwy 20 closed
Where is mile post 148?
Re: Hwy 20 closed
Near Easy Pass trailhead.
Re: Hwy 20 closed
Effective July 17, SR 20 North Cascades Highway is fully closed between Granite Creek (MP 148) and east of the Rainy Pass Trail Head (MP 158) due to wildfire activity. There is no ETA for reopening. This information will be updated when the status of the road changes.
Jim Brennan
Re: Hwy 20 closed
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-easy-fire
Incident Overview:
The Easy Fire, burning in dense timber in the Methow Valley 20 air miles west of the Mazama community, was sparked by dry lightning storms on the evening of July 17, 2024. Crews responded and immediately reported explosive fire growth and running crown fire into the evening. Crews stayed on the fire overnight but weeks of extreme temperatures, record dry conditions, and dangerous terrain with no road access hampered initial response efforts.
Firefighters will continue scouting terrain where containment lines would be effective at stopping any new growth on the Easy Fire. Since there are no existing roads or other natural features to limit fire spread, fire managers will use a combination of ground crews to put in containment lines and air resources to cool off hotspots with water. Steep terrain will likely limit the ability of air tanker pilots to safely fly the fire area even if retardant were effective in dense timber where typically, little if any retardant reaches the ground.
Incident Overview:
The Easy Fire, burning in dense timber in the Methow Valley 20 air miles west of the Mazama community, was sparked by dry lightning storms on the evening of July 17, 2024. Crews responded and immediately reported explosive fire growth and running crown fire into the evening. Crews stayed on the fire overnight but weeks of extreme temperatures, record dry conditions, and dangerous terrain with no road access hampered initial response efforts.
Firefighters will continue scouting terrain where containment lines would be effective at stopping any new growth on the Easy Fire. Since there are no existing roads or other natural features to limit fire spread, fire managers will use a combination of ground crews to put in containment lines and air resources to cool off hotspots with water. Steep terrain will likely limit the ability of air tanker pilots to safely fly the fire area even if retardant were effective in dense timber where typically, little if any retardant reaches the ground.
Jessica Goldberg
Re: Hwy 20 closed
Thank you for the update, Jessica. There are probably quite a few readers on this board who are familiar with that area and nearby trailheads.
My heart goes out to the dense trees being torched and the under-story and wildlife that call them home. I have to wonder how this might effect the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival featuring one of the best line-ups I've seen in years.
May the crews now battling this new fire remain safe. They may have named it The Easy Fire but I doubt working it will be anything but easy.
My heart goes out to the dense trees being torched and the under-story and wildlife that call them home. I have to wonder how this might effect the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival featuring one of the best line-ups I've seen in years.
May the crews now battling this new fire remain safe. They may have named it The Easy Fire but I doubt working it will be anything but easy.
Jim Brennan
Re: Hwy 20 closed
This update just was posted at 4:00 PM today by WSDOT—
WINTHROP – State Route 20 North Cascades Highway has reopened as of 4 p.m., Thursday, July 18 between milepost 148 at Granite Creek and milepost 158 Rainy Pass trailhead, where it has been closed since 3 a.m. due to wildfire activity.
The incident has been named the Easy Fire and is burning approximately half a mile away from the roadway. Travelers are advised not to pull off the highway between mileposts 148 and 158 and to remain alert for fire response and maintenance crews in the area.
WINTHROP – State Route 20 North Cascades Highway has reopened as of 4 p.m., Thursday, July 18 between milepost 148 at Granite Creek and milepost 158 Rainy Pass trailhead, where it has been closed since 3 a.m. due to wildfire activity.
The incident has been named the Easy Fire and is burning approximately half a mile away from the roadway. Travelers are advised not to pull off the highway between mileposts 148 and 158 and to remain alert for fire response and maintenance crews in the area.
Jim Brennan
Re: Hwy 20 closed
Updated today 7/21—
Fire mitigation work will mean delays on SR 20 North Cascades Highway starting Monday, July 22.
Fire response crews have scheduled tree felling and other mitigation work on State Route 20 North Cascades Highway near the Easy Pass trailhead (milepost 150-153) starting Monday, July 22, in anticipation of the Easy Fire backing down the mountain toward the roadway.
Operations are scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. Work will require extended closures, with flagger-controlled traffic and pilot car, and with delays of 30 minutes to allow fire crews to safely remove trees and brush near the roadway. Travelers are still advised not to pull off the highway between mileposts 148 and 158 and to remain alert for active fire response and maintenance crews throughout the mountain passes.
Fire mitigation work will mean delays on SR 20 North Cascades Highway starting Monday, July 22.
Fire response crews have scheduled tree felling and other mitigation work on State Route 20 North Cascades Highway near the Easy Pass trailhead (milepost 150-153) starting Monday, July 22, in anticipation of the Easy Fire backing down the mountain toward the roadway.
Operations are scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. Work will require extended closures, with flagger-controlled traffic and pilot car, and with delays of 30 minutes to allow fire crews to safely remove trees and brush near the roadway. Travelers are still advised not to pull off the highway between mileposts 148 and 158 and to remain alert for active fire response and maintenance crews throughout the mountain passes.
Jim Brennan
Re: Hwy 20 closed
Just to be clear, Hwy 20 is OPEN. But starting tomorrow, there will most likely be delays.
The Easy Fire has extended over the ridge of Mt. Hardy threatening the Pacific Crest Trail, while also moving slowly down slope toward Highway 20.
This is still a relatively small fire but is 0% contained.
The Easy Fire has extended over the ridge of Mt. Hardy threatening the Pacific Crest Trail, while also moving slowly down slope toward Highway 20.
This is still a relatively small fire but is 0% contained.
Jim Brennan