A wildfire visible from Snoqualmie Ridge poses no threat to the Snoqualmie Valley, according to a statement from the Snoqualmie Fire Department early Sunday morning, Oct. 16.

The now visible, 2,000 acre Loch Katrine Fire has been burning inside the Alpine Lake Wilderness Area adjacent to Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest since early September. It is burning exclusively on private timber land, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

Visibility of the fire has increased as fire activity has picked-up near Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest due to high temperatures, strong easterly wind events and low relative humidity, according to Snoqualmie Fire.

A cause for the fire was undetermined as of press time Sunday afternoon.

Campfires, briquette fires and stove fires are currently prohibited throughout the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. There is also a total burn-ban in effect across King County.

“We know these are unusual conditions for this late in the year and especially west of the Cascades—an area typically known for wetter weather,” The U.S. Forest Service wrote in a statement.

“We ask for the public’s help in protecting homes, communities, and our cherished forest lands by adhering to the campfire ban in place and being extra cautious when using anything that could cause a spark,“ the statement continues.

Snoqualmie Valley and much of King County has been blanketed by heavy smoke over the past few weeks as fires continue to burn northeast of Snoqualmie.

In addition to the Loch Katrine Fire, the Murphy Lake fire also burns inside the Alpine Lake Wilderness Area. The nearly 15,000 acre Bolt Creek Fire near Skykomish also remains active.

Updated fire details can be found online at gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc.

Editor’s note: this story has been updated.

A map of active wildfires in Washington. Image courtesy of The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

Smoke from the Loch Katrine Fire seen from Snoqualmie Ridge. Photo courtesy of Calder Productions.