Firecrews arrive at the Learning Center

The Goodell Fire in North Cascades National Park has expanded and totalled 6,716 acres on Aug 27, burning on both sides of State Highway 20 and the Skagit River near the town of Newhalem, the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center and Newhalem campground. The fire also continues to creep eastward up Newhalem Gorge along both sides of Gorge Lake in the direction of Diablo and the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.
We were much relieved when firefighting crews arrived on campus on Aug 26 to begin resource protection activities. The Learning Center is a hive of activity with fire crews on site, including three engines from Darrington, Index and Concrete. Crews have begun installing water pumps in Diablo Lake and hoses and sprinklers throughout campus and surveying the campus  for vegetation removal to create defensible space.



We are truly grateful for the outpouring of compassion and support from so many across the country over the past week. We are especially thankful for all the hard work by the firefighters, first responders, National Guard, U.S. Army servicemen and women and others working on the wildfires across Washington State, and from our partners at Seattle City Light and North Cascades National Park.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of life of three firefighters in Twisp last week and send our condolences to all of the family and friends of those impacted by these traumatic wildfires. This fire season will leave impacts that will be felt far and wide throughout the Northwest for years to come.
You can help support North Cascades Institute during these tumultuous time of program cancellations and restructuring, lost revenue and displaced staff by making a gift today at ncascades.org/support. We also encourage you to support families in need on the eastside of the state. The Community Foundation of North Central Washington has compiled a list of resources at cfncw.org/fire.


Find the latest detailed information on the fire and its impacts on the Learning Center and the Institute on our website at www.ncascades.org/wildfire and facebook.com/ncascades. We are posting photos from the fires at http://ncascades.tumblr.com. You can reach us M-F 8:30-4:30 at (360) 854-2599 or nci@ncascades.org. Thank you.