B&O Fire Near Okanogan: Human-Caused Blaze Reaches 3,000 Acres, Level 3 Evacuations Issued and Partially Reduced

A wildfire that erupted northwest of the city of Okanogan on July 9, 2026, has grown to nearly 3,000 acres, prompted Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders for multiple neighborhoods, and been determined to be human-caused, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed.

Fire Origin and Spread

The B and O Fire ignited on July 9, 2026, on Pogue Mountain southwest of Okanogan in Okanogan County. Driven by hot, dry winds, the fire moved aggressively northward, prompting emergency officials to issue a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order for areas west of Okanogan, including Salmon Creek Road North. Residents were urged not to wait for door-to-door contact and to leave immediately.

By early Saturday, July 11, the fire had grown to nearly 3,000 acres. A perimeter map released by Okanogan County indicated the possibility of up to 1,400 acres in the initial burning hours, with rapid growth continuing over the following days.

Evacuation Levels

Okanogan County Emergency Management issued both Level 2 (“Be Ready”) and Level 3 (“Go Now”) evacuation orders for affected communities. As firefighters made progress on portions of the fire’s perimeter, some evacuation levels were reduced, but residents in certain zones remain under evacuation orders as of Sunday, July 12.

A Red Cross emergency shelter was opened at Community Presbyterian Church to assist displaced residents. Officials remind anyone who has not yet registered for Okanogan County Alerts to create or update their account at the county’s emergency notification system to receive real-time updates.

Human-Caused Origin

The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office announced on July 9 that the B&O Fire was determined to be human-caused. No further details on the specific cause or any potential legal action have been released at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Firefighting Response

Multiple agencies responded to the B&O Fire, including Washington DNR, Okanogan County Fire, and mutual aid crews from the region. Aerial resources were deployed to combat the blaze in the rocky and steep terrain surrounding Pogue Mountain. Road closures were enacted in the fire area to allow safe firefighting operations and to keep civilians out of harm’s way.

What Residents Should Know

Monitor the Okanogan County emergency alerts system for the latest evacuation level changes.
Do not return to evacuated areas until officials give the all-clear.
Be prepared for road closures on routes west and north of Okanogan.
If you need shelter assistance, contact the Red Cross shelter or Okanogan County Emergency Management.