sourdough fire Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

With wildfires increasing, the threat to utilities is also on the rise

By Lauren Gallup August 18, 2023

Shrubs and trees and transmission lines are in the foreground of the picture. White smoke rises in behind them in the background of the picture.

Wildfires pose a threat to the energy sector — both the critical infrastructure that generates energy, like dams and wind turbines, and the infrastructure that delivers electricity to consumers, mainly transmission lines. The Sourdough Fire in Whatcom County has caused two dams that provide power to Seattle to go offline for stretches of multiple days — the Ross and Read More

Part of HWY 20 reopened, firefighters still actively working in area as Sourdough Fire burns

By Lauren Gallup August 9, 2023

The Sourdough Fire has consumed 1,710 acres of forest since starting July 29. // CREDIT: Washington State Department of Transportation North on Twitter.

Scenic State Route 20 which runs through North Cascades National Park is now reopened. The highway had been closed between Newhalem and Rainy Pass in Whatcom County, as it is the main access point for firefighters working the Sourdough Fire. Mark Enty, public information officer with Northwest Incident Management Team 10, said crews are still working in the area and Read More

Evacuations remain in place as crews battle Sourdough Fire

By Lauren Gallup August 7, 2023

Aerial view of the Sourdough Fire burning in Whatcom County. Credit: InciWeb

Air and ground crews continue to fight the Sourdough fire burning in Whatcom County, which had grown to 1,440 acres as of Monday. The fire is burning in a remote area where the terrain is rugged and steep, which is why crews are attacking the fire from the sky, said Mark Enty, public information officer for Northwest Incident Management Team 10. Read More