With wildfire in Whatcom County boxed in, evacuation notice for Blue Canyon Road lifted
The wildfire at Blue Canyon Road on the southeastern side of Lake Whatcom is burning itself out, and crews have made sure it is boxed in, meaning it has no where to go.
Fire lines were finished Saturday, Sept. 2, and surround the fire on all sides, except where it meets the lake.
As a result, the evacuation notice for residents in the area has been lifted, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Blue Canyon Road is still closed to through traffic. There are about 20 people who live along the road in the vicinity of the fire.
“There will be smoke coming up from the interior of the fire for the rest of the summer but there are people watching the fire to make sure it doesn’t get outside of the perimeter,” said Kevin Killian, assistant regional manager for The Department of Natural Resources.
The lake has been reopened to boaters, but people are still being asked to stay clear of the Southeastern part of Lake Whatcom, as debris will continue to fall for the next few weeks as the fire burns itself out. Hertz Trails will also remain closed.
Two engine crews, a hand crew and two supervisors are currently ensuring the fire lines are holding. This will soon drop to a skeleton crew that will monitor the fire until it is completely out, which will likely take a few weeks.
The fire began Aug. 28 as the result of a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. At its heights, the fire consumed out 45 acres of mostly steep terrain above the lake.
The residents along Blue Canyon Road received a Level 2 evacuation notice, meaning they should prepare to leave. Residents said they were gathering important papers and valuables just in case, but it never got to the point where an evacuation was necessary.
State and private fire crews used helicopters and small aircraft to scoop water from the late and drop it on the fire while ground crews worked to build fire lines. At one point, a spokesman for DNR said that once it is contained, the fire would likely burn itself out or be extinguished by the fall rains.
This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 11:49 AM.
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