Washington forest fire spreads into British Columbia

A lightning‑ignited wildfire in Washington State, designated the Border 2 Fire, ignited about 2.4 km east of Hozomeen and later merged with the Border 1 Fire, covering roughly 121 hectares (about 300 acres). The blaze crossed the international border into British Columbia, burning in the steep, remote terrain of the Okanogan‑Wenatchee National Forest.

Firefighters are operating under a full‑suppression strategy. A Type‑3 Incident Commander arrived on July 22, and a nine‑person crew was deployed by boat to the Hozomeen area on Ross Lake. Air support includes an air‑attack aircraft, a scooper, and Type‑2 and Type‑3 helicopters. The north end of Ross Lake is closed to recreational use, and all vessel and foot traffic across the border are prohibited. Hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast to heighten fire activity in the coming days.