Wildfires update: New fire sparked in North Cascades; Easy Fire grows despite rain
Weekend thunderstorms in the North Cascade of Whatcom County sparked several new fires, but only one appears to be spreading with fire crews assigned to control it, according to national and statewide fire information centers.
What fire managers are calling the Ruby Fire is on Ruby Mountain at the south end of Ross Lake in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area of southeastern Whatcom County.
Sparked by lightning on Friday, the Ruby Fire has grown to 739 acres and is burning in the understory and brush of mountain timber. It was 0% contained Tuesday.
Fire was moving downhill and could threaten Highway 20, the North Cascades Highway, according to Monday morning updates on Inciweb and the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.
Highway 20 is already closed by the Easy Fire and a mudslide from that fire’s burn scar from milepost 148 to 157, just over the Whatcom County border.
Flames from the Ruby Fire are running downhill and sending firebrands ahead of the main fire. Wildland fire crews and firefighting aircraft have been requested.
One Tuesday, it was expected that the Ruby Fire would be spreading in all directions with up to 500 acres of new growth over the next three days.
Mount Baker fire
No updated information was available Monday on three fires burning in the Mount Baker wilderness. Those fires started Friday north of the mountain village of Glacier. The Mount Baker Ranger District offices were closed on Monday.
According to the wildland firefighting app Watch Duty, only the Canyon Creek Fire remained active Monday. It was reported at less than 1 acre early Monday.
Easy Fire
Despite nearly 2 inches of rain on Sunday and cooler weather, the Easy Fire has grown to 2,120 acres, according to an Inciweb update posted at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Rainfall caused a mudslide in the fire burn scar, sending mud, rocks, trees and other debris across Highway 20 at mile marker 152.
“Because of recent and expected forecasted rainfall, crews will be assessing ways to safely engage with fire suppression activities. The team will also continue to evaluate suppression options that account for moderated weather conditions. The plan continues to hold the fire at the ridge top between Okanogan and Skagit county,” the Inciweb update said.
Highway 20 will remain closed until at least Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted Monday.
The Easy Fire was started by a lightning strike on July 17, on the Skagit-Okanogan county border just south of Whatcom County.
More than 200 firefighters are assigned to the fire. It was 0% contained and expected to burn until Oct. 1 or whenever the fall rainy season begins.
This story was originally published August 13, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
