Whatcom County to replant $30,000 of plantings damaged on berm during events

B y I an h aupt

Whatcom County Public Works crews will replant $30,000 worth of plantings on the Birch Bay berm in late spring that were damaged during the past two years, said Roland Middleton, public works special programs manager.

Hagen’s of Blaine fire impacts office, smoke in warehouse

Firefighters responded to an office fire at a downtown Blaine parcel store on the night of March 10. North Whatcom

Fire and Rescue (NWFR) and Lynden Fire Department units were called to the Hagen’s of Blaine, at 253 Martin Street, on March 10, fire chief Jason Van der Veen said.

NWFR was dispatched at 11:13 p.m. and the first engine arrived on scene at 11:21 p.m. Van der Veen said electrical wiring in the office seems to have started the fire. The fire was con- tained to the office but smoke damaged the warehouse.

A store owner arrived at Hagen’s to check on a burglar alarm and found smoke coming from the building. Van der Veen said it’s not uncommon for an older alarm system to have all of its alarms go off at the same time.

Some of the store’s doors were barricaded because of previous criminal activity, which made it difficult for the firefighters to quickly gain access to the building, Van der Veen said.

There were no injuries.

Middleton said public works had prepared for some replanting in the berm’s project budget, but didn’t expect the overuse and severe seasons of the past two years. The $30,000 for the plantings is covered in the project budget, so no action is needed from Whatcom County Council.

“[People] have been loving it to death in a few spots,” he said.

Walkers have worn in an unintended pathway on top of the berm, parallel to the cement walkway, and crowds during Birch Bay events like the Ring of Fire and Hope, Discover Birch Bay Days and the Fourth of July have damaged plantings in other areas.

The county’s permits for the project require it to plant a certain amount along the berm and ensure those plants reach maturity. Public works crews are still evaluating the percentage that needs replanting and will wait until spring to begin planting.

Middleton first announced the necessary replanting on the

February episode of the Birch Bay BuzzPod, which is hosted by Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce event coordinator Sacha Sanguinetti and available on the chamber’s website at birchbaychamber.com. Middleton said on the podcast that the plants are also needed because their roots hold the berm together.

“Those plantings are not only required by regulatory agencies through our permits, but are also a requirement by the designer,”