North Cascades Fires Top 5,000 Acres as Smoke and Dry Conditions Move In

Happy Monday, Bellingham. It is August 3 and we are kicking off the last full summer month with sunny skies, some serious wildfire smoke drifting our way from the mountains, and a few stories worth knowing before you head out. Coffee ready? Let's get into it.

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Today’s Weather: Sunny skies today with a high near 71 degrees and a light north-northwest breeze. Tonight stays mostly clear, dropping to around 58. Good beach weather, though keep an eye on air quality as smoke from the North Cascades fires may drift into the valley this week. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Safety

North Cascades Fires Top 5,000 Acres as Smoke and Dry Conditions Move In

The Border 2 and Luna fires in the North Cascades have grown past 5,000 acres, and this week's dry, warm conditions are not helping. Crews have been working to defend structures in the Hozomeen area along the U.S.-Canada border, and Washington state has now entered a statewide burn ban.

For Bellingham residents, the main concern right now is air quality. Smoke can settle into the valley during calmer overnight and morning hours, so if you are sensitive to smoke, it is worth keeping windows closed and having a plan. Check air quality conditions before outdoor exercise this week.

Get the full fire update and what it means for local air quality here.

Environment

Bellingham's Sewage Incinerator Is Spreading PFAS and Costing Ratepayers

Bellingham's Post Point Resource Recovery Plant burns sludge left over from wastewater treatment, and a growing number of community members want that to stop. The concern: the incinerators are releasing PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals," into the air around Bellingham Bay. At the same time, the process is expensive, and critics say cheaper, cleaner alternatives exist.

Some residents are pushing the city to shut down the incinerators and shift to landfilling the sludge while longer-term options are studied. The issue touches your sewer bill, your air quality, and Bellingham Bay's health all at once.

Read the full breakdown, including what the science says and what options the city is weighing, in this story.

Civic

Lummi Burial Site Case Heads to Federal Trial in October

A jury trial is set to begin October 4 in federal court in the case between the Lummi Nation and Whidbey Telecom over the disturbance of ancestral burial grounds in Point Roberts, a peninsula west of Bellingham that falls within the Lummi Nation's historical territory.

The Lummi Nation says Whidbey Telecom trenched through burial grounds during a broadband installation project, exposing human remains and ignoring state and federal stop-work orders. The company's CEO has acknowledged a shell midden was disturbed and that a suspected cranial fragment was found and then lost. A federal judge has already ruled that the Lummi Nation "faces irreparable harm" and is "likely to succeed" at trial.

The case is part of a broader regional pattern: Washington state identified 54 Indigenous skeletal remains between 2023 and 2025 alone. Get the full story, including what the Lummi Nation is asking the court to order, right here.

Health

New For-Profit Hospice Agency Gets State OK for Whatcom County Over Community Objections

Washington state has approved a new in-home hospice agency, Shalom Hospice of Northwest Washington, to operate in Whatcom County. The company is affiliated with a network of out-of-state for-profit hospice businesses connected to Samuel Stern and the Stern Family Trusts.

The approval came despite objections from local Jewish community leaders and others who argued that existing hospice providers already meet the county's needs. Critics also raised concerns about the company's out-of-state ties and for-profit model entering an area already served by well-regarded local agencies.

For families navigating end-of-life care decisions in Whatcom County, this adds a new name to the list. Read the full details, including what community leaders said during the approval process, in this story.

Community

Meet Rescue Dogs Before You Commit: Bellingham's Cornwall Avenue Dog Lounge Explained

If you have walked past the spot on Cornwall Avenue and wondered what is going on inside, here is the short version: it is a dog lounge where you can hang out with rescue dogs in a real-world setting before deciding whether to adopt. The place is called Are You My Human?, and all visitors are welcome, even people who are not planning to adopt.

The model is different from a traditional shelter. Dogs get more social time and a chance to show their actual personalities, rather than being stuck in a kennel. Potential adopters get to see what a dog is really like in a calm, everyday environment before making a commitment.

Learn how the lounge works and how to visit in this story.

Arts & Culture

Your August Performing Arts Guide for Bellingham and Whatcom County

August is packed with live performance in Whatcom County. From local theater companies and high school productions to dance and one-night special events, there is genuinely a lot on the calendar this month.

One highlight: a special edition of Action Fiction celebrating local author Scott Lambridis' new book, "St. Ulphia's Dead," produced by Little Lemon Productions. The full calendar covers everything happening across the county through the end of the month.

See the complete August performing arts calendar, including dates, venues, and how to get tickets, right here.

Home Sweet Bellingham

August Market Check: What's Happening in Bellingham Real Estate This Month

August is traditionally one of the busiest months for real estate activity in Bellingham, with families trying to get settled before the school year and buyers who have been watching all summer finally making their move. If you have been thinking about the market, now is a good time to pay attention.

A few things worth knowing as we head into the month: Fairhaven and Sehome continue to see strong interest from buyers who want walkable neighborhoods with character. Cordata and Birchwood tend to offer more for the dollar, especially for families who need space. And with interest rates shifting through the year, what you can afford in one quarter looks different in the next.

For current listings, open houses, and neighborhood stats, the Bellingham.org events calendar often lists community open house events, and the City of Bellingham's website has neighborhood planning documents if you want to dig into what is coming to any given area.

Sponsored

Start August Fresh With a Deep Clean From Cascade Home Cleaning

August is here, school is around the corner, and the summer has a way of leaving things a little more lived-in than you planned. Cascade Home Cleaning is a locally owned Bellingham service that makes it easy to reset the house before the fall rush hits.

Right now, new customers who sign up for recurring cleaning service get 50% off their first deep clean. This offer expires at the end of the week, so if you have been putting it off, this is the week to book it.

Schedule your first clean or get a free quote at cascadehomecleaning.com.

The Upcoming Week