Wildfire smoke may be headed toward Bellingham as heat lingers, burn bans ramp up

Whatcom County residents could start seeing some wildfire smoke this weekend as unseasonably warm temperatures continue to grip the area and another fire erupts in North Cascades National Park.

Fire officials imposed extra burn restrictions in Bellingham, Whatcom County and on state and federal lands Wednesday, even as daytime highs drop into the low 80s on Thursday and Friday.

That’s still about 10 degrees above seasonal norms for Bellingham.

“Looking ahead, however, the fire weather threat remains elevated through the weekend as low-level flow starts to turn offshore,” National Weather Service meteorologist Dana Felton said.

“Minimum relative humidities in the Cascades drop into the 20s on Saturday with potential for hot, dry and unstable air mass again. Offshore winds may also spread wildfire smoke from the Sourdough Fire, British Columbia and Eastern Washington into the area,” Felton said in the Seattle office’s online forecast discussion.

West winds that have been keeping Bellingham cool and smoke-free all summer may shift to north and east on Sunday, according to the forecast.

Burn bans imposed

Outdoor fires are banned because of current fire danger, which is flagged as “very high.”

City, county, state and federal lands all have individual policies, but in general all fires are banned, according to emailed statements.

▪ Bellingham Fire Marshal Shawn Linville said the city’s burn ban was issued Wednesday in conjunction with Whatcom County, the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.

“All outdoor fires where solid wood is used as fuel are prohibited within Bellingham city limits until further notice. This outdoor fire ban includes campfires, outdoor fireplaces, and fires in fire pits or other fire enclosures, regardless of protective screening or grating. Propane and natural gas fire pits and barbecues and charcoal barbecues are still allowed provided solid wood is not being burned,” Linville said.

▪ Similar measures took effect Wednesday in Whatcom County, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office.

All outdoor burning is prohibited, including yard debris fires, land clearing fires, and recreational fires. Propane fire pits without solid wood burning material will be allowed, along with propane and charcoal barbecues, Fire Marshal’s Office said.

▪ A ban on all campfires, including charcoal, starts Friday in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Gas or propane camp stoves may still be used in the wilderness backcountry and campgrounds, but “anything that produces an ash will not be allowed,” according to a statement.

▪ Washington State Parks outlawed wood and charcoal fires at its parks statewide and on ocean beaches on July 2.

All fires, including campfires and cooking fires, are banned on DNR land.

Wildfires update

In the North Cascades, firefighters continue to fight the Sourdough Fire burning east of Newhalem in Whatcom County, according to a daily progress report from the National Interagency Fire Center.

No injuries have been reported and no buildings have been damaged, but officials have been having trouble with infrared drone flights so the size of the fire remains at 2,953 acres with 11% containment, fire agency spokeswoman Michele Laboda said.

Flames continue to creep along the forest understory toward the burn scar from a 2015 fire near Newhalem that officials hope will stop the fire, she told The Bellingham Herald.

That fire started with a lightning strike July 29 and at one time threatened power-generating facilities for Seattle City Light.

“Crews continued to hold and improve containment lines near structures and power lines in the Diablo and Ross Lake areas. While hazards like rock and debris along the highway remain a concern, improvements are steadily being made as mop-up efforts continue,” federal officials said in an online statement.

“Due to the recent increased winds, firefighters will conduct a reassessment of the Sourdough Lookout, validating the integrity of the previously implemented structure protection plan. Helicopters are actively engaged in water drops and reconnaissance missions,” the statement said.

Federal officials believe the Sourdough Fire will burn until rain or snow arrives in the fall.

Meanwhile, state Highway 20 over the Cascades crest remains closed between milepost 120 at Newhalem and milepost 171 at the Silver Star Campground.

Many trails and campgrounds in the area are closed because of the Sourdough Fire and another nearby wildfire — the Blue Lake Fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

That fire started Monday and its cause was unknown, but it has increased in size to 215 acres and is burning in timber and brush.

An elite “hotshot” wildland firefighting unit is at the remote sight, and aircraft are dropping water.