Saturday Fire Update – September 2, 2023, 2115 PDT
The LAKE WHATCOM FIRE started on August 28, 2023, at 1755 hours PDT, which was caused by lightning.
Resources: Orting Valley F&R, Renton RFA, Central Kitsap F&R, Cowlitz Fire/Rescue, WWFD, South Puget Sound Wildland Fire Team (Gig Harbor F&R), WA DNR, WSDOT, Whatcom County SO, Baker River Hotshots, South Whatcom Fire Authority, SE WA IMT, and the Whatcom County EMA.
The lightning-sparked fire has burned between 40 (per SEWAIMT) and 45 (wildcad.net) acres started on the steep slopes of the south side of Lake Whatcom above the Blue Canyon Road area. Whatcom County Fire & EMS were dispatched on August 28th just before 2100 hours. It was listed as an Outside Fire on Blue Canyon Road and a Dead End road in Sedro Woolley, (Skagit), Washington. (E26, B26 and IA25).
The fire is actually located in Bellingham in Whatcom County, Washington State.
The Baker River Hotshots were on the south end of Lake Whatcom and went direct and made a lot of progress. They seem to be really busy this 2023 Fire Season.
Spotters were quickly on the fire posting photos and sharing intel of the fire quickly spreading.
On August 29, 2023, WA DNR indicated Whatcom County Sheriff’s notified area residents near the wildfire of Level 2 evacuations. (GET READY)
As of this morning’s update, firefighters have been able to reach a 90% containment status.
No homes/outbuildings have been reported as damaged or destroyed.
Currently, there are two crews, three engines, and aircraft as needed alongside a total of 99 personnel.
On Sunday, the Command will be turned back over to the local fire unit (WA DNR) with a Type 4 IC and some resources remaining on the scene/fire line. At the time of this post, the Command of the fire is under the Incident Commander Walter Escobar, with the SE WA IMT, a type 3 IMT.
Sources: SEWAIMT, WA DNR, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo Credit:, Baker River Hotshots.
(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog
NW Fire Blog 