Kartar Fire Approaches Full Containment on Washington's Colville Reservation

After burning nearly 11,750 acres across the Kartar Valley and the Omak Lake area of the Colville Reservation in Okanogan County, the Kartar Fire is now essentially contained. As of the morning of June 25, 2026, incident management is transitioning from the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 3 to a lighter Warm Springs Type 4 team, which will oversee the final stages of mop-up, rehabilitation, and patrol operations.

Fire History

The Kartar Fire ignited on the evening of June 16, 2026, and was determined to be human-caused. Under investigation by the Colville Agency, the fire exploded rapidly through sagebrush, flashy fuels, grasslands, timber, and old logging berms — classic fuel conditions for the eastern foothills of the Okanogan Highlands in early summer. Within 48 hours of ignition, the fire had spread to several thousand acres and prompted a Level 3 (Immediate Evacuation) order for residents along Kartar Valley Road, Columbia River Road near Omak Lake, and the south end of Omak Lake Road.

At its peak, the fire had grown to 11,746 acres and had more than 190 personnel assigned. Road closures were implemented along Columbia River Road at State Route 155 and at Cameron Lake-Omak Lake Road to protect emergency response routes and resident safety.

Transition to Patrol Status

By June 24, the fire had achieved 95% containment, with perimeter control largely secured. Incident Commander Andrew Stenbeck and the NE WA IMT 3 team worked collaboratively with the Colville Agency throughout the response. According to InciWeb, the fire is now considered 100% contained and crews will spend the next several days:

Conducting daily patrols for warm spots
Performing rehabilitation and repair of suppression-related disturbance
Completing pre-air inspection activities

The transition to the Warm Springs Type 4 team takes effect at 0600 on Thursday, June 25.

Weather Outlook Improving

Firefighters benefited from a favorable shift in the weather pattern over the final days of the incident. A system that moved through Wednesday afternoon brought a chance of light wetting showers, and forecasters expect moisture to continue building into the weekend. Minimum relative humidity values are projected to climb from the teens into the 40s by Friday — a significant improvement for mop-up and patrol work. Thunderstorms remain a possibility through Wednesday evening, with terrain-driven winds possible in sheltered areas overnight.

Evacuation Orders Lifted

With containment secured, the Level 3 evacuation orders that were in place during the fire's active phase have been lifted. Residents who were displaced from the Kartar Valley and Omak Lake areas are now able to return home, though they are urged to remain vigilant as mop-up operations continue. Smoke and residual heat in the burn area are expected for several more days.

Lessons for the Season Ahead

The rapid growth and eventual suppression of the Kartar Fire illustrates the volatility of early-season fire conditions in Eastern Washington. The Colville Reservation and Okanogan County have experienced multiple significant fire seasons in recent years, and land managers continue to emphasize the importance of defensible space and evacuation readiness for residents in fire-prone communities.