EASY PASS, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Crews are continuing their fight against the Easy Fire to prevent it from growing closer to the North Cascades Highway.

Over 120 personnel have been assigned to the fire, which has been burning in the Methow Valley since a lightning strike started it on July 17. The incident response team estimates that it’s spread to 528 acres as Thursday, Aug. 1.

The team said in an update on Aug. 1 that the fire is burning on steep slopes where burning logs pose the danger of rolling downhill.

They said crews recently controlled one such rollout that took place just 100 ft above SR 20 to help keep it from spreading to the highway.

The North Cascades Highway remains open, but drivers are being asked not to stop between mileposts 148 and 157, and crews are warning the highway may close again on short notice.

The fire is still 0% contained and is expected to carry on into October.

It comes as the U.S. Forest Service announced that fire conditions will intensify into the weekend with forecasted winds and triple-digit heat after a temporary break of cooler weather over the past few days.