Update: This story was updated to include new information from the North Cascades National Park Service. Last updated 7/22/26 3 p.m.

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Winds may be shifting smoke out of our region, but wildfires continue to rage in BC and the Cascades.

The B.C. Wildfire Service reports a third blaze has been sparked within the Brunswick Creek Complex north of Hope.

Located about 60 miles from the border, the fires have burned over 62,000 acres since the start of the month.

Smoke from the Brunswick Creek Complex led to Air Quality Alerts in Whatcom and Skagit Counties earlier this week.

B.C. Wildfire adds that crews used a drone for the first time to spark a new line of perimeter fire in an effort to prevent additional spread towards residential areas.

Other fires east of the Cascades are growing in size as well.

The North Cascades National Park Service reports that the Border 2 fire has now burned about 300 acres near the northeast side of Ross Lake.

Monitoring website Frontline reports that the Ptarmigan fire in the Pasayten Wilderness has grown to almost 1,200 acres as of Wednesday, July 22.