North Cascades Highway reopens

SEATTLE — The North Cascades Highway, or Highway 20, closed east of Ross Lake for nearly a day due to a wildfire burning near the road, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The highway closed Wednesday evening between Milepost 148 near the Granite Creek Bridge and Milepost 158, just east of the Rainy Pass trailhead. The highway reopened around 4 p.m. on Thursday, though the wildfire was still active. Drivers should not stop between Mileposts 148 and 158, officials said.

The fire was burning about a half-mile from the roadway, so drivers should remain in their cars and obey all signage. “No lookie lous,” the WSDOT warned on Thursday afternoon.

WSDOT also advised drivers to be alert for fire teams and maintenance crews and have a backup route in case of another closure.

The fire, named the Easy fire and near the Easy Pass trailhead, was sparked Wednesday by a lightning strike, according to a report by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

The National Weather Service had a red flag warning in effect for the Cascades and much of the Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday. Scattered thunderstorms had been expected to develop in these areas, potentially causing fires.

As of Thursday’s update, the fire has burned 100 acres and is 0 percent contained.

The highway was closed repeatedly last year during the summer due to wildfires.