New wildfire breaks out near Gold Bar; Level 2 evacuation advisories issued to some

>>UPDATE<<

GOLD BAR, Wash. -- A new wildfire broke out in Western Washington Friday -- this one near Gold Bar.

Snohomish County Fire District 7 said the Gold Bar Fire, also known as the Proctor Creek Fire, had burned about 75 acres by 9:30 p.m. and was spreading on Forest Service land. "Tough terrain for crews, inaccessible," the district tweeted.

At 4:47 p.m. Friday, crews were dispatched to a report of smoke on the hillside up Forest Service Road 62, east of Gold Bar, the district said in a news release. "The terrain is steep with lots of timber, slash and debris which is making the fire is hard to access."



It added that Level 1 evacuation notices were issued to residents on the south side of Highway 2 between 437th Drive SE and FS Road 62.

Under Level 1,  people  are warned that current or projected threats from an approaching fire are severe. They are told that this is the time for preparation, and precautionary movement of people with special needs, mobile property, and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. They will be kept advised of changing conditions.

Late Friday night, the evacuation orders were upgraded to Level 2 evacuations for the same area.  Under level 2 evacuations residents are warned to be ready to leave soon.

Crews from Snohomish County Fire District #26, Fire District #7, Fire District #3, Getchell Fire, Fire District #28, Duvall Fire, Forest Service, and Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office are all assisting with the incident.

"Crews will be at the fire through the night. Our main objective is the keep the public and crews safe," the district said.

 

The season's first big wildfire broke out Thursday near Oso. That fire, on state Department of Natural Resources land, had burned about 130 acres and was still going strong Friday night, authorities said.

No cause has been determined yet for either fire.