NORTH CASCADE, Wash. — A large, cloudlike formation seen coming from the east on Friday was actually a large plume of smoke created by the Sourdough Fire burning in North Cascades National Park.
According to NASA, the pyrocumulus cloud is a cumulus cloud formed by a rising thermal from a fire, or enhanced by buoyant plume emissions from an industrial combustion process.
The Sourdough Fire is now burning 2,933 acres and is not yet contained. Diablo Lake, Ross Lake Resort and several camping spots are closed for now.
The Sourdough Fire started in late July after a lightning strike and is 0% contained as of Saturday, according to Inciweb. A total of 267 personnel are currently fighting the fire, which is burning within the North Cascades National Park.
State Route 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway, closed Friday at 10 p.m. between Newhalem and just west of Rainy Pass due to fire activity. There is no estimated opening date.
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