Lambdin Fire Scorches Nearly 13,000 Acres Near Wallula Junction as Washington Enters Peak Fire Season

A fast-moving wildfire ignited June 29 along U.S. Highway 12 near the Wallula Junction in Walla Walla County has grown to approximately 12,776 acres and remains only 25 percent contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The Lambdin Fire — burning within the Mid Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Complex under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction — represents the largest active fire in the Pacific Northwest and a stark early warning that Washington's 2026 fire season has arrived in force.

Fire Origins and Rapid Growth

The blaze ignited at approximately 10:20 a.m. on Monday, June 29, starting along Highway 12 near the Wallula Junction in Walla Walla County. Within hours, it had consumed more than 1,000 acres. By Monday night, fire crews confirmed the fire had expanded dramatically to 13,300 acres according to Watch Duty monitoring, racing north of Touchet before crews began establishing containment lines.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources reported the fire burning south of Wallula Junction toward Juniper Canyon. Multiple rural roads were closed due to fire activity, including Nine Mile Road, Byrnes Road, Ash Hollow Road, and Touchet N. Road.

State Fire Mobilization Activated

The scale and speed of the Lambdin Fire prompted a significant state-level response. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan at 2:30 p.m. on June 29 — just hours after ignition. Mobilization specialists ordered multiple strike teams and hand crews, with approximately 20 engines successfully establishing protective lines around critical infrastructure including a natural gas pipeline and an electric substation.

The rapid deployment underscores the aggressive posture fire agencies are taking as Pacific Northwest conditions — including below-normal snowpack, early-onset drought, and above-average temperatures — have primed the region for elevated fire danger.

Highway 12 Temporarily Closed

Thick smoke from the Lambdin Fire created dangerous visibility conditions along Highway 12, contributing to multiple vehicle crashes. No serious injuries were reported. The Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Patrol responded to multiple blocked mileposts near Touchet and the Wallula Junction. The highway reopened late Monday night, though travelers were urged to exercise caution.

What is Burning

The fire is burning through grasslands, shrublands, and scattered riparian habitat typical of the lower Columbia Basin landscape. Dry fuels, low relative humidity, and variable winds have complicated containment efforts. Aerial resources have been deployed alongside ground crews.

The National Interagency Fire Center as of July 1 lists the Lambdin Fire as one of 51 uncontained large fires burning across 12 states, with national resources under heavy demand at Preparedness Level 4. More than 9,000 firefighting personnel are currently deployed to active incidents nationwide, and competition for resources is intense.

Monitoring and Updates