While fires across Oregon continue to dominate regional attention, incidents in Idaho and Washington are at different stages of the firefighting cycle — with Idaho's Turner Fire nearing full containment after a rapid response, and two Washington fires maintaining significant threat levels to communities and infrastructure.
Idaho: Turner Fire — 681 Acres, 79% Contained
The Turner Fire, burning approximately five miles south of Copeland in Boundary County, Idaho, is 79% contained as of July 21 at 681 acres. Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1, under Incident Commander Brent Olson, assumed command of the fire on July 17 after it grew rapidly due to a significant wind event following its initial discovery on the evening of July 15.
The fire burned through a mix of short grass, agricultural fields, open and closed canopy timber, and recent harvest units. The Kootenai River to the west served as a natural barrier to surface fire spread. Crews have now lined the entire perimeter and are engaged in active mop-up, focusing on areas dominated by mature mixed conifer with deep duff layers where interior smoldering continues.
The Turner Fire earlier prompted evacuation of approximately 100 homes near Bonners Ferry and drew an all-hands response from local, state, and federal firefighters. With containment progressing well, fire managers expect full containment in the coming days pending no significant weather events. Forecasters are watching an incoming thunderstorm chance Thursday that could bring outflow winds and new lightning, though rain amounts are expected to be minimal.
Resources currently assigned include 199 total personnel, 3 dozers, 5 helicopters, 5 hand crews, and 13 engines.
Washington: Garred Road Fire — Sun Lakes Area Threatened
The Garred Road Fire in Grant County, Washington, has grown to approximately 3,500 acres and remains an active structural threat. Washington's Governor has authorized State Fire Mobilization for this incident, enabling the mobilization of resources from across the state under a unified command structure.
Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders are in place for the Sun Lakes area, which includes Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park — one of Washington's most visited state parks. In addition to recreational infrastructure, the fire is threatening residential structures and wheat fields that represent significant agricultural value in the Columbia Basin. Evacuees should contact Grant County Emergency Management for shelter resources.
Washington: Kaiser Canyon Fire — Nespelem Evacuations Continue
The Kaiser Canyon Fire in Okanogan County ignited on July 16 and has grown to approximately 2,200 acres. Level 3 evacuation orders remain in place near the community of Nespelem on the Colville Indian Reservation. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Okanogan County emergency management agencies are coordinating the community response.
Okanogan County has been among Washington's most fire-prone regions in recent years, and current fuel conditions — exacerbated by a dry spring and record-low snowpack across the Cascades — have contributed to rapid initial growth on this fire as well.
Washington's Broader Fire Season
Washington currently has six large uncontained fires, placing it among the states with the highest fire activity nationally. The state's legislature entered the 2026 season having doubled the firefighting budget in anticipation of a difficult year. The Chelan Hills Fire in Douglas County — which sparked over Fourth of July weekend and burned nearly 10,000 acres, destroying numerous structures and killing at least one person before reaching 50% containment — remains a sobering reminder of how quickly fires can escalate in the drier eastern portions of the state.
Idaho's four current large fires, including the Turner Fire, represent a somewhat lighter load than Oregon and Washington, but fire managers caution that the same fuel and weather conditions driving problems to the west are present throughout the Northern Rockies.