South Whatcom Fire responds to report of a small wildfire at Galbraith Mountain
Firefighters are investigating a small wildfire on Galbraith Mountain, according to the emergency services app Pulse Point.
According to the app, which uses information from the What-Comm 911 dispatch center, four units from South Whatcom Fire Authority are checking reports of smoke and ash on the Galbraith Mountain Bike Trail area.
South Whatcom Fire Chief Mitch Nolze said the fire covers about three and a half acres of the mountain. One of the mountain biking trails was affected by the fire but the rest of the mountain is open.
According to Janet Pearce, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the fire was called in at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The crews that were dispatched are making good progress, she said.
There are no evacuations at this time, but the public is asked to avoid the area. The fire will likely remain highly visible for the majority of the day, said Justin Rasmussen, training supervisor for the city of Bellingham.
At noon, a person who was in the area told The Bellingham Herald the fire looks to be contained and firefighters were busy clearing brush.
The mountain is a popular hiking destination. Galbraith Lane is a primary access point for popular mountain biking trails. Several homes are located in the area as well.
Update July 19 at 12:30 p.m.
The Galbraith Bike Trail fire is 3.6 acres and almost contained on Wednesday. Crews are working to mop up and extinguish the hot spots so it can be fully contained, according to Pearce.
This is a developing story and will be updated
This story was originally published July 18, 2023 at 10:26 AM with the headline "South Whatcom Fire responds to report of a small wildfire at Galbraith Mountain."
