Washington state firefighters are stretched across multiple fronts this holiday weekend, battling not just the headline-grabbing Chelan Hills Fire, but several other significant wildfires that have erupted across the eastern part of the state. Here is a rundown of active incidents beyond the Chelan Hills emergency.

Hamilton Fire — Winthrop, Okanogan County

The Hamilton Fire near the popular tourist town of Winthrop in Okanogan County made a rapid initial run through timber and heavy brush after it started, forcing the entire town of Winthrop to evacuate at Level 3 status. Aggressive air and ground attack in the days following ignition helped crews turn the corner on the fire. As of this weekend, evacuation levels have been downgraded:

  • Level 3 “Get Out Now” orders have been reduced to Level 2 “Get Set” for some areas
  • Additional zones have been downgraded further to Level 1 “Get Ready”

Residents who have been displaced should check with Okanogan County Emergency Management before returning to their properties, and remain prepared to leave quickly if conditions change.

Henderson Fire — Near Lake Chelan, Chelan County

The Henderson Fire, burning near Lake Chelan in Chelan County, has seen evacuation levels successfully downgraded over the past 72 hours as crews continue to reinforce the perimeter and conduct mop-up operations. Fire managers note the fire remains active and residents should continue to monitor updates through official channels.

Walla Walla County Fire — Near Containment

One piece of positive news: the large fire in Walla Walla County that charred over 12,700 acres is now reported at 90% containment. Firefighters made substantial progress in recent days, and the blaze is expected to be fully contained soon. The fire burned primarily through the region’s dry grasses and light brush, typical of the Columbia Plateau landscape.

Mt. Tom Creek, Henderson, and North Cascades

The Mt. Tom Creek Fire remains on the InciWeb active fire list for Washington state, as do fires in the North Cascades National Park complex. A new fire in an extremely remote area of North Cascades National Park was discovered following the June 24 lightning storm, burning approximately one acre in terrain that is difficult to access by ground crews. Helicopter operations are supporting assessment and initial suppression efforts.

State Resource Deployment

The Chelan Hills Fire is Washington’s 15th incident to trigger state mobilization in 2026, a measure of how busy the season has become. Washington State Patrol, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and local fire jurisdictions have all deployed significant resources to coordinate a response across multiple simultaneous incidents — a logistical challenge that underscores the urgency of the current fire environment.

With no significant rainfall in the forecast and temperatures expected to remain above normal across eastern Washington, fire managers warn that additional ignitions during this holiday weekend are a serious concern. Residents east of the Cascades are urged to avoid any activities that could spark a fire and to have an evacuation plan ready.