Two wildfires burning in North Cascades National Park continued to grow over the weekend and are expected to spread further this week as hot, dry weather arrives in Whatcom County. The Border 2 Fire has surpassed 5,000 acres, and the Luna Fire has more than doubled in size, together prompting new closures in the backcountry and raising air quality concerns for communities across Western Washington.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency this weekend as fire activity intensified across multiple regions. The declaration activates additional state resources and can accelerate federal assistance requests. For Whatcom County residents, the most immediate effects are likely to come in the form of smoke and poor air quality rather than direct fire threat to populated areas.
Where the Fires Are and How Big They Have Grown
The Border 2 Fire is burning in the Hozomeen area, located between Ross Lake and Hozomeen Mountain near the United States-Canada border in the northern section of North Cascades National Park. As of Sunday, August 2, the fire stood at 5,028 acres, up from 3,500 acres on Friday, July 31. That is a growth of more than 1,500 acres in less than 48 hours.
Firefighters on the Border 2 Fire are working a suppression strategy and conducting structure protection operations in the Hozomeen area. Two helicopters are supporting ground crews. The fire received one-tenth of an inch of rain Sunday morning, a modest amount that provided brief slowing without changing the overall trajectory.
The Luna Fire is burning north of McMillan Creek and has spread to both sides of Big Beaver Creek. It grew from 392 acres on Friday to 950 acres by Sunday, more than doubling over the same period. Big Beaver Creek drains into Ross Lake, and the fire's spread along both creek banks indicates active burning in the steep, heavily forested terrain that characterizes the upper Skagit watershed.
Both fires have expanded their closure footprints as they grow. The North Cascades National Park Service Complex has issued updated closures for the affected areas, and backcountry travelers with permits for the Hozomeen, Big Beaver, or Ross Lake corridors should check current conditions before heading into the field. A flight restriction, including the use of drones, is in effect over the wildfire areas to protect helicopter operations.
What Bellingham and Whatcom County Residents Should Expect
The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a moderate heat risk advisory for Whatcom County and warned of dry, hot conditions through Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. East winds are expected to blow over the Cascades during that window, which will lead to poor relative humidity recovery overnight. Lower overnight humidity means fire crews get less natural assistance in slowing fire spread, and fuels dry out more thoroughly heading into each afternoon's peak fire weather.
Smoke is coming. The NWS forecast indicates that surface-based smoke from wildfires in Washington state and British Columbia will arrive in Western Washington by Tuesday. Residents with respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease, should prepare to limit time outdoors on smoky days. The elderly and children are also at elevated risk during high-smoke periods.
For real-time smoke and air quality information, the AirNow fire and smoke monitoring tool at fire.airnow.gov shows current conditions across the region and allows users to check the air quality index at specific locations. The Northwest Clean Air Agency, which covers Whatcom County, also issues air quality advisories when conditions deteriorate.
Fire restrictions remain in effect throughout North Cascades National Park. Campfires, including wood, briquettes, or any solid fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbecue grills, are banned. Portable camp stoves using gas, propane, or jellied petroleum fuel are permitted. Anyone planning to camp or hike in the national park during August should check the current restriction level before departing.
The Bigger Picture for the 2026 Fire Season
The rapid growth of the Border 2 and Luna fires is part of a broader pattern across Washington this summer. The statewide wildfire emergency declaration reflects the scale of simultaneous fire activity in multiple regions, including the Okanogan Highlands and other parts of Eastern Washington where larger fires have been threatening structures and prompting evacuations.
For Whatcom County, the North Cascades fires are a reminder that the county's eastern reaches border some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the Pacific Northwest. The Hozomeen area, where the Border 2 Fire is burning, is accessible only by boat across Ross Lake or by a rough road through British Columbia. That isolation makes ground suppression difficult and helicopter support critical.
Residents who depend on the North Cascades backcountry for recreation, water supply, or work should monitor conditions closely through the coming week. The fire situation in the park and the surrounding national forest is expected to evolve rapidly as this week's heat and wind arrive. Updates from the North Cascades National Park Service Complex are posted regularly and represent the most authoritative source of current information on the fires and their associated closures. Earlier coverage of the Border 2 and Luna fires from late July documented the initial growth of both blazes and provides useful context on how the fires started and what crews were facing.
