Loch Katrine Fire, Daily Update, October 18, 2022

Resources continue to arrive to support all firefighting efforts around the perimeter of the fire. Assessment of the fires’ footprint is ongoing, with plans being developed and implemented from those assessments to limit fire growth.  

 The Loch Katrine Fire is estimated at 1,620 acres. Among the many resources that have arrived, 5 hand crews and about a dozen engines joined the efforts yesterday and will continue forward through the duration of the incident.

Monday, ground resources scouted access points around the fire and planned strategies to safely engage at strategic points and find opportunities to limit fire spread and minimize impacts to values at risk.

Due to the topography, it is difficult for crews to access the fire line directly, so work is focused on improving nearby roads and other areas as containment lines as well as establishing safety zones.

Some small-scale burning operations, designed to remove unburned fuel between control lines and the fire’s edge, are ongoing to strengthen and secure the lines and gain containment. This work, combined with aviation support, will continue today.  

No evacuations are currently in place for this fire.  

Weather: Today will remain warmer and drier than normal for mid-October. The fire areas have not experienced rain for over 40 days. Patchy fog in the morning with Sunny afternoons. Highs in the mid-60s to 70s. Light westerly winds around 8mph in the afternoon. 

Smoke: Mixed smoke with fog in the early mornings and late nights as the inversion sets in. Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups from Bellingham to Seattle, with the heaviest impacts in the Darrington area.  A smoke column may be visible from both the I-90 and I-405 highway corridors. 

[This information was provided to Living Snoqualmie by the Public Information Officer for firenet.gov]