Image: North Cascades National Park Service Complex

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Huge fire south of the U.S.-Canada border

Huge fire continues to grow southeast of Chilliwack, across the U.S.-Canada border

Sep 3, 2025 | 8:42 AM

NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK — A lightning-caused wildfire that ignited last week in an area southeast of Chilliwack on the U.S. side has grown from 50 acres (20.2 ha) to over 735 acres (297.4 ha).

According to the latest online estimates, the Perry Fire as it is known now sits at 737.2 acres. It is located west of Little Beaver Campground on the northwest side of Ross Lake in North Cascades National Park. It was first discovered Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Fire behaviour moderated under morning air inversions on Tuesday, but the Perry Fire remained active over the weekend and was previously estimated at 600 acres (242 ha). On Sunday, August 31, a Type-3 helicopter delivered aerial water but had to disengage due to limited visibility, the National Park Service wrote in a statement. Steep, difficult, and cliffy terrain pose significant threats to firefighter safety which can then limit direct handline work. Fire managers are maintaining a full suppression strategy with aerial-delivered water.

Image: Watch Duty

Unseasonably hot and dry weather is expected throughout the remainder of the week. An air inversion will likely occur, forecasters predict. Once the inversion lifts, increased fire behavior is expected due to hot and dry conditions. Visitors should expect to see smoke impacts in the Ross Lake area.

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The National Park Service noted that regional and national smoke is present in the area.