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10 clusters · 30 sources · 39 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: HEALTH · INTERNATIONAL · CRIME · POLITICS

Washington wildfires, July 2026

Entities: Okanogan County · Washington · Northern Rockies Incident Management Team · Colville Indian Reservation · Kaiser Canyon Fire

Overview

The 2026 wildfire season in eastern Washington has continued to unfold with a succession of fast‑moving blazes. Earlier incidents included the Upriver Fire, grass fires near Winthrop, the Chelan Hills Fire, and the Transfer Fire, all of which prompted large‑scale evacuations and highlighted persistent red‑flag conditions.

A lightning‑sparked blaze, the Kaiser Canyon Fire, erupted on July 16 on the Colville Reservation. By July 17 it had burned over 46,000 acres with zero percent containment and forced the evacuation of roughly 1,000 residents from 800 structures. Intensive multi‑agency efforts were launched, including a national incident management team.

The fire kept expanding, reaching approximately 124,000 acres by July 27 and achieving 15 % containment. Level 3 (GET OUT) evacuation orders now cover a 30‑mile stretch of State Route 21, portions of State Route 155, and the towns of Nespelem and Omak. Northern Rockies Incident Management Team resources total 884 personnel, aerial assets and ground crews; 13 buildings have been destroyed. Emergency shelters operate in Omak and Coulee Dam, and animal shelters opened in Grand Coulee, Okanogan and Omak. Smoke from the blaze has degraded air quality across the Columbia Basin, Spokane Valley and parts of the Idaho Panhandle. The ongoing incidents underscore the challenges of protecting rural communities amid strong winds and dry conditions.

Timeline

  1. 3 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Kaiser Canyon Fire grows to 124,000 acres, 15% contained, new evacuations in Washington

    A lightning‑started wildfire in Okanogan County, Washington, has scorched 124,000 acres, is 15% contained, and prompted new Level 3 evacuations along SR‑21, destroying 13 structures and affecting air quality in

  2. 12 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 15 sources
    Washington's Kaiser Canyon Fire forces evacuation of 1,000 residents

    Washington's Kaiser Canyon Fire grows to 46,000 acres, evacuating 1,000 people; parallel wildfires threaten communities in Bolivia, Argentina, Oregon and elsewhere.

  3. 18 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Lake Chelan, Washington wildfire prompts evacuations

    Two wildfires near Lake Chelan, Washington — the Transfer Fire and Chelan Hills Fire — caused Level 3 evacuations, threatened homes and businesses, and burned nearly 10,000 acres before containment.

  4. 21 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Washington and Oregon wildfires scorch thousands of acres, raze dozens of structures

    Washington's Chelan Hills Fire burned 9,400 acres, destroyed >100 structures and killed one person, while a smaller Oregon wildfire of 3‑3.5 acres was fully contained after aerial and ground firefighting effort

  5. 22 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Chelan wildfire devastates Douglas County, Washington, kills one

    A human‑caused wildfire near Highway 97 in Douglas County, Washington burned ~10,000 acres, destroyed 19 homes and killed one person; investigators are probing arson and manslaughter charges.

  6. 22 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Chelan Hills Fire destroys Hobbit Inn and forces evacuations in eastern Washington

    The Chelan Hills Fire in eastern Washington has burned 9,800 acres, killed one person, razed over 100 homes including the Hobbit Inn, and prompted evacuations and calls for preparedness.

  7. 26 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Washington Wildfire Near Lake Chelan Forces Evacuations as Red Flag Warning Issued

    A July 4 wildfire near Lake Chelan burned over 400 acres, prompting Level 3 evacuations in Douglas County, while a Red Flag Warning warned of high fire risk across North Central Washington.

  8. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Winthrop, Washington wildfire forces town evacuation

    A 50‑acre wildfire near Winthrop, WA prompted Level 3 evacuations for the whole town on June 28, 2026, with residents directed to Twisp; no injuries or damage reported.

  9. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Upriver Fire devastates homes and kills resident in Spokane, Washington

    The Upriver Fire in Spokane on June 16, 2026 burned 225 acres, destroyed 14‑15 homes, forced 1,500 evacuations, killed a resident who refused to leave, and prompted community aid for displaced families.

  10. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Washington's Upriver Fire forces evacuations of 12,000 residents

    Washington’s Upriver Fire has burned >220 acres, forced evacuations of 12,000 residents, and joins other large state fires amid drought and strong winds.

Sources

ahoradigital.net · alexion.com · alphavile.com.br · canucksarmy.com · cbs19.tv · crestron.com · dailyclout.io · dailydispatch.com · elcomercio.com · elkhornmediagroup.com · ellibertario.com · elperiodico.com.bo · elsubmarinojujuy.com.ar · exitonoticias.com.bo · expreso.ec · fm899.com.ar · giochiperfetti.it · iso-bolvi.fi · kiroradio.com · lapostadesanluis.com.ar · lavozdetarija.com · mc.dk · notinor.com · ocean-energyresources.com · somosjujuy.com.ar · thecooldown.com · thepassivevoice.com · weinviertler.at · wgan.com · yovenice.com