Easy Fire expands to 528 acres, Highway 20 reopens with restrictions

MAZAMA — The Easy Fire in Washington's Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has expanded to 528 acres as of Sunday, July 28, remaining uncontained since its lightning-caused ignition on July 17. Despite the fire's growth, officials have reopened State Route 20 with limited access.

The Northwest Incident Management Team 3 reports that State Route 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway, is now open to through traffic. A pilot car is escorting vehicles between mileposts 148 and 157 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, with expected delays of up to 30 minutes. Motorists are advised not to stop or pull over on this stretch of road.

Fire officials warn that the highway may need to close again on short notice due to ongoing wildfire activity and suppression operations. Travelers are urged to check the Washington State Department of Transportation's real-time map for the latest updates on the highway's status.

The south end of the Easy Fire continued its slow advance toward the indirect fireline on Saturday, though it remains north of an avalanche chute and the constructed fireline. Firefighters have extended hose lays to both sides of the fire, utilizing helicopters to deliver materials near the 2004 Mebee burn scar.

Planned strategic firing operations were postponed on Saturday due to cumulus cloud buildup and potential thunderstorms. Crews instead focused on reinforcing indirect firelines and testing sprinkler systems at the Easy Pass Trailhead. A helicopter landing spot near the Mebee Lookout Tower was established for potential structure protection operations.

Sunday's firefighting efforts will focus on monitoring fire activity along State Route 20 and implementing continuous hose lays on both sides of the Easy Fire. If weather conditions permit, crews may conduct strategic firing operations on the fire's southeast side using aircraft.

The fire team, now comprising 110 personnel, is led by Incident Commander Lonnie Click and Trainee Incident Commander James Osborne. A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect over the fire zone, with officials emphasizing the prohibition of unauthorized drone activity.

No evacuations are currently in place. Forest officials continue to enforce closures for trails within the fire area, including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. Campfires are prohibited throughout the affected region.

Weather forecasts predict highs in the mid to upper 80s, with partly cloudy conditions and northwest winds of 5-9 mph during the day, increasing to 9-13 mph in the evening. There is a chance of early morning showers, which may result in small amounts of precipitation over the fire area.