Washington Car Shipping in Jeopardy Thanks to Wildfires
Ash falls like snow. The sun is a sultry red in a hazy orange sky. It’s supposed to be triple-digits today, but Washingtonians may feel some relief, thanks to the wildfires burning across the state. Ironic that it’d be multiple fires that help to bring temperatures down.
Apologies for waxing poetic. I’ve been writing about auto transportation services for over a decade now, and this is the first time I’ve had to report on something so close to home. And it’s not just Washington car shipping that’s in jeopardy from these fires – it’s everyone and everything in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and northern California.
But it’s true. Wildfires are raging across the Pacific Northwest and California, dozens upon dozens of them. Some are mostly contained, some are hardly contained. A state of emergency has been declared by Washington State governor Jay Inslee. Luckily, at least for some anyway, the fires aren’t close to major population centers. Many of them are in national forests or up in the Cascade Mountains, not near places like Seattle or Vancouver or Tacoma. But that may be small comfort for residents of the Pacific Northwest.
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How Washington car shipping is in jeopardy
Right now, most of the fires are still in the Cascades, which is a major plus. Being away from major population centers means evacuations are relatively light. But areas are being affected, and stretches of Interstate 84 have been closed by Cascade Locks. This means that auto transporters are going to have to find alternate routes into the Portland, Oregon metro area, including Vancouver, Washington.
The wildfires are nothing to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, but they’re still wreaking havoc on the Pacific Northwest. It’s not a joke when I say that the entire state is covered in a haze of smoke – that’s fact. The sun is red when I look out my window. This is a serious problem right now.
But in terms of affecting car transportation services, the impact is minimal. So far, the fires aren’t affecting any cross-state interstates such as I-90 or I-5. So most major cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, etc – those are all still accessible. As mentioned, I-84 is shut down in some areas, prompting some carriers to divert to other routes. But the impact is minimal.
What’s ahead for Washington car shipping services
While most routes to major areas are still open, only time will tell for sure if they’ll stay that way. Efforts are underway to contain the myriad blazes raging across the state, but resources are limited. With the state of emergency, new wildfires will only have limited resources diverted to them – existing fires take precedence. This is to be expected.
If you’re planning a shipment to or from Washington, make sure to speak to an agent. They can give you more information regarding route closures and diversions. If your vehicle is already in transit, speak to an agent. They can get a hold of the carrier for you and discuss conditions on the road.With any luck, the fires will be contained shortly and routes will not be shut down. But if the fires spread…well, we’ll keep you updated. It’s the best we can do right now.
Get free quotes to ship a car with American Auto Shipping
Right now, the wildfires have yet to impact Washington car shipping services severely. However, they may spread. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start your search for free car shipping quotes! If you’re interested in shipping a car, make sure to fill out our free auto transportation quote request form. It’s free and easy, won’t take more than a minute or two, and will net you free quotes from some of the best shippers in the industry. We clear all of them for dependability and reliability and make sure they’re fully licensed and bonded. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us any time, toll-free, at 800-930-7417.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
