WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Whatcom News readers sent in news tips and while others sought information on social media about a pungent odor first reported on Saturday, March 15, 2025, and reports continued into Sunday.
Tracking report locations, it appeared the odor stretched from the area of Jackson Road and Grandview Road across several miles to the northeast. Winds in the area had switched from northeasterly to southwesterly about 11am on Saturday, about the time the reports began and remained southwesterly through Sunday.
People complained about headaches and breathing problems they attributed to the odor. Longtime residents said they had never experienced such an odor before.
Northwest Clear Air Agency Communications Program Manager Seth Preston told Whatcom News via email on Monday morning they too had received “several dozen complaints over the weekend.” The complaints reported a “strong burning oil” smell coming from the BP Refinery at Cherry Point. Preston said, “Refinery officials say they are shutting down a processing unit for cleaning and overwhelmed the flaring system.”
Temporary flaring, the burning off of product via an often-visible flame at the top of a tall structure, is an industrial safety mechanism intended to dispose of product in a controlled manner in order to protect workers and the nearby community.
Preston added, “We are following up with BP and sending out inspectors.”
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