Highway 101 near Shelton reopens after closure due to brush fire (PHOTOS)



SHELTON -- A large brushfire near Shelton closed Highway 101 in both directions  for a while Thursday afternoon, the Washington State Patrol said, as increasing easterly winds spurred flames.

But the Mason County Sheriff's Office tweeted at 4:20 p.m. that the highway was back open.



According to the WSDOT, the highway was closed temporarily just north of Shelton at MP 344 in the 17000 block of Shelton Springs Road. Officials were working to put out the blaze.

The fire and closure comes in the midst of a Red Flag Warning for areas around the Puget Sound, as dry easterly winds are expected to continue through Friday evening.