Good morning, Bellingham.

Bars and restaurants in western Washington are collecting donations (non-perishable food, hygiene items, pet food) for Spokane wildfire relief through Wednesday night; four Stoup Brewing locations serve as drop-off points as others join the drive to support those impacted.

Dry weekend winds fanned wildfires from the North Cascades to Lake Chelan, including the Kaiser Canyon Fire which burned over 136,000 acres on the Colville Reservation since July 16.

Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a wildfire emergency and issued a statewide burn ban on Aug. 1 + evacuations are in place.

Local pet experts advise Whatcom County owners to walk dogs early or late to avoid the hottest hours (tips shared by Whatcom Veterinary Hospital) and use cooling pads, kiddie pools, and frozen treats to keep pets safe this summer.

Wildfire smoke from fires in Washington, Oregon, and Canada is expected to lower air quality across western Washington through midweek while local health officials urge residents to check the AQI and limit outdoor activity.

AC expert Philip Dye of Feller HVAC advises local residents to plan early for a reliable heating and cooling system as the coming winter may bring fluctuating temperatures with El Niño effects.

Residents can explore options that ensure comfort and energy savings before fall.

Bellingham’s Bells clinched the North Division’s #2 seed after sweeping the Victoria HarbourCats and will host playoff games on Saturday, and they begin a final regular season series tonight at 6:35 against the Edmonton Riverhawks — marking Taylor Swift Night at Joe Martin Field.

Bellingham’s Bells clinched the #2 seed in the North Division after sweeping the Victoria HarbourCats over the weekend — they will host playoff games on Saturday if needed while playing their final regular season game tonight against the Edmonton Riverhawks.

Baby Cakes Concert at Hotel Bellwether

5-9 p.m. — Hotel Bellwether — $15 adults, $10 kids — Enjoy BBQ, craft brews, and a lively performance by the high-energy Baby Cakes band.