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'{{Short description|2023 wildfire in Washington, U.S.}} {{current wildfire|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = Sourdough Fire | image = Sourdough Fire from Pyramid Lake Trailhead - August 4, 2023.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Smoke plumes from the fire seen on August 4 | location = [[North Cascades National Park]]<br />[[Whatcom County, Washington]], U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|48|43|18|N|121|8|8|W|display=inline,title}} | reference = <!-- or: | references = --> | cost = | date = July 29, 2023 – present | time = | time-begin = | time-end = | timezone = | area = {{convert|5,618|acre|ha}} as of August 14<ref name="InciWeb">{{cite web |date=August 20, 2023 |title=Sourdough Fire Update – August 20, 2023 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-publication/warlp-sourdough-fire/sourdough-fire-update-august-20-2023 |publisher=InciWeb |accessdate=August 20, 2023}}</ref> | acres = | cause = Lightning strike | landuse = | buildings = | structures = | livestock = | injuries = | fatalities = | missing = | evacuated = | perps = | motive = | image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=260|frame-height=|from=2023 Sourdough Fire.map|frame-latitude=48.728|frame-longitude=-121.14|zoom=12 |text=Estimated perimeter of Sourdough Fire ([[c:Data:2023 Sourdough Fire.map|map data]])}} | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = <!-- or: | name = --> | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = }} The '''Sourdough Fire''' is an ongoing [[wildfire]] in [[Whatcom County, Washington]], in the [[Pacific Northwest]] region of the United States. It was reported on July 29, 2023, near [[Sourdough Mountain (Whatcom County, Washington)|Sourdough Mountain]] in [[North Cascades National Park]] and was likely caused by an earlier lightning strike. The fire caused the closure of the [[North Cascades Highway]] (State Route 20) and evacuations of recreational facilities and three [[Seattle City Light]] [[hydroelectric dam]]s in the area. {{As of|2023|08|14|alt=As of August 14}}, the Sourdough Fire is estimated to have burned {{convert|5,618|acre|ha}} and is 12&nbsp;percent contained.<ref name="InciWeb"/> ==History== The Sourdough Fire was first reported on July 29, 2023, three days after a thunderstorm in the area with lightning strikes that caused nearby fires. It is named for [[Sourdough Mountain (Whatcom County, Washington)|Sourdough Mountain]] in [[North Cascades National Park]].<ref name="CDN-July31">{{cite news |last=Lerner |first=Julia |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Crews battle Sourdough wildfire in Whatcom County |url=https://www.cascadiadaily.com/news/2023/jul/31/crews-battle-sourdough-wildfire-in-whatcom-county/ |work=[[Cascadia Daily News]] |accessdate=August 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=July 29, 2023 |title=Sourdough Fire Evening Update |url=https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/news/sourdough-fire-evening-update.htm |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |accessdate=August 4, 2023}}</ref> The fire grew to over {{convert|1,440|acre|ha}} by August 4 and prompted the immediate closure of the North Cascades Highway ([[Washington State Route 20|State Route 20]]) between [[Newhalem, Washington|Newhalem]] and [[Rainy Pass]].<ref>{{cite news |date=August 4, 2023 |title=Sourdough Fire in Whatcom County expands to 2,933 acres, 0% contained |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/sourdough-fire-whatcom-county-expands-534-acres-overnight-0-contained/3JKE7JS2PNGWLJLMEKPGXKBFHY/ |publisher=[[KIRO-TV|KIRO 7 News]] |accessdate=August 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Times-Aug5">{{cite news |last=Bellamy-Walker |first=Tat |date=August 5, 2023 |title=North Cascades highway shut down due to wildfire |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/north-cascades-highway-shutdown-due-to-wildfire-activity/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref> It was initially reported on August 5 to be nearly {{convert|3,000|acre|ha}} but the estimate was revised down with the use of more accurate mapping.<ref name="Herald-Aug7">{{cite news |last=Mittendorf |first=Robert |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Highway remains closed as Sourdough Fire creeps toward town, power-generating plant |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article278033363.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=August 7, 2023}}</ref> The North Cascades Highway reopened on August 9,<ref name="Times-Aug9">{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=August 9, 2023 |title=North Cascades highway reopens as Sourdough fire continues to burn |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/north-cascades-highway-reopens-as-sourdough-fire-continues-to-burn/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 9, 2023}}</ref> but closed again two days later due to increased fire activity near the road.<ref name="Times-Aug11">{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=August 11, 2023 |title=North Cascades Highway closes again as Sourdough fire burns |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/north-cascades-highway-closes-again-as-sourdough-fire-continues-to-burn/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref> Evacuations were ordered at several campsites and recreational facilities in the park around [[Diablo Lake]].<ref name="Herald-Aug4">{{cite news |last=Mittendorf |first=Robert |date=August 4, 2023 |title='We are holding our own': Sourdough Fire grows significantly as evacuations ordered |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article277946138.html |work=[[The Bellingham Herald]] |accessdate=August 4, 2023}}</ref> {{As of|2023|08|11|alt=As of August 20}}, the fire is estimated to have burned {{convert|5,618|acre|ha}} and is 12&nbsp;percent contained. Approximately 411 firefighters, 6 helicopters, and several aircraft were dispatched to respond to the fire.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 11, 2023 |title=Sourdough Fire Update – August 11, 2023 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-publication/warlp-sourdough-fire/sourdough-fire-update-august-11-2023 |publisher=InciWeb |accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Times-Aug11"/> The [[Sourdough Mountain Lookout]], a historic [[fire lookout]] tower atop the mountain, was wrapped in fireproof material to protect it from damage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mittendorf |first=Robert |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Whatcom County wildfire closes major highway, grows overnight to nearly 3K acres |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article277986688.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=August 7, 2023}}</ref> The fire generated a large [[pyrocumulus cloud]] on August 4 that was visible from the [[Puget Sound region]].<ref>{{cite news |date=August 4, 2023 |title=Fire burning in the North Cascades creates smoke plume visible from Puget Sound area |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/fire-north-cascades-creates-plume-puget-sound/281-5972e455-0d97-4d05-a1ca-3020b0e7cc47 |publisher=[[KING-TV|KING 5 News]] |accessdate=August 5, 2023}}</ref> Fire officials expect the Sourdough Fire to continue southeast towards Diablo Lake and [[Gorge Lake]] and potentially west where "more continuous fuels exist". The fire, described as "long-duration", is not expected to be contained until October due to warm temperatures and low humidity.<ref name="Herald-Aug4"/><ref name="KUOW-Aug8"/> The community of [[Diablo, Washington|Diablo]] is expected to remain under evacuation orders, along with the [[Diablo Dam]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mittendorf |first=Robert |date=August 3, 2023 |title=Sourdough fire could burn all summer as firefighters defend town, hydroelectric plant |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/weather-news/article277930008.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=August 4, 2023}}</ref> [[Seattle City Light]] plans to continue operating the [[Skagit River Hydroelectric Project|three hydroelectric dams]] in the area and suspended its tours of Diablo Lake.<ref name="Times-Aug5"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Strang |first=Jenn |date=August 5, 2023 |title=Seattle City Light providing assistance as Sourdough wildfire continues to grow |url=https://powerlines.seattle.gov/2023/08/05/sourdough-fire-assistance/ |work=Powerlines |publisher=[[Seattle City Light]] |accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref> During evacuations of staff on August 2, the Diablo and [[Ross Dam|Ross]] dams went offline while Gorge Dam continued with reduced output of about 50&nbsp;percent; and several transmission lines were also shut down to prevent shorting.<ref name="Times-Aug9"/><ref name="KUOW-Aug8">{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=John |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Sourdough Fire takes bite out of Seattle's electricity supplies |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/sourdough-fire-takes-bite-out-of-seattle-s-electricity-supplies |publisher=[[KUOW-FM|KUOW]] |accessdate=August 10, 2023}}</ref> Power generation at the Diablo and Ross dams resumed on August 9.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=John |date=August 11, 2023 |title=Power production resumes at Skagit dams near Sourdough Fire |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/power-production-resumes-at-skagit-dams-near-sourdough-fire |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=August 14, 2023}}</ref> The fire was directed west towards Newhalem by firefighters using "burnout techniques"; the area near Newhalem includes burn scars from a 2015 wildfire that would slow progress. The strategy was paused after a [[red flag warning]] was issued by the [[National Weather Service]] for the Diablo area with a high temperature of {{convert|104|F|C}} recorded on August 13.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mittendorf |first=Robert |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Small Whatcom County mountain town, power station out of fire danger as blaze continues |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/weather-news/article278235483.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=August 14, 2023}}</ref> Smoke from the Sourdough Fire moved southwest into the Puget Sound region, including [[Seattle]], on August 13 and caused worsened [[air quality]] readings.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 13, 2023 |title='Noticeable smoke' in Seattle area due to Sourdough fire |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/noticeable-smoke-seattle-area-wildfire/281-d37a9035-4082-4eb0-8ed5-b9861aff04a2 |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=August 14, 2023}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/warlp-sourdough-fire InciWeb] {{2023 wildfires}} {{Washington wildfires}} [[Category:2023 Washington (state) wildfires]] [[Category:July 2023 events in the United States]] [[Category:August 2023 events in the United States]] [[Category:History of Whatcom County, Washington]] [[Category:North Cascades National Park]]'