A newly designated large fire broke out in southeastern Washington this week, adding to the state’s already taxing 2026 fire season. The Hatch Grade Fire, managed by the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office, has burned approximately 9,023 acres and reached 70% containment, according to the National Interagency Fire Center’s October 2 situation report.

Location and Current Status

The Hatch Grade Fire is burning approximately 6 miles southwest of Touchet, in Walla Walla County in the Columbia Basin region of southeastern Washington. The area is characterized by grassland, dryland wheat fields, and shrub-steppe terrain that can carry fire rapidly under dry and windy conditions.

At 70% containment on 9,023 acres, crews have made significant progress since initial attack. No contact number has yet been publicly listed for this incident, indicating it is still in the early stages of a formal Incident Management Team assignment.

Context: Fall Fire Conditions Remain a Concern

The Hatch Grade Fire’s emergence in October underscores the persistence of fire-prone conditions across much of the Pacific Northwest. NIFC weather forecasters noted this week that a warming trend is pushing temperatures 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across most of the West, with minimum relative humidity values expected to remain very low in parts of the Northwest.

The NICC Predictive Services long-range outlook for October through January indicates that below-normal precipitation is favored across Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming through mid-October. While fire activity has dropped significantly from summer highs, these conditions mean new ignitions remain possible through at least the middle of the month.

Southeastern Washington: A Historically Vulnerable Area

The Columbia Basin and Palouse region of southeastern Washington is one of the state’s most fire-prone landscapes. Dry grasses, persistent winds funneling through the Columbia River Gorge and Yakima Valley, and rapid temperature swings create conditions where fires can cover thousands of acres within hours of ignition.

Earlier this season, the Spokane Complex — a cluster of three fires in eastern Washington — destroyed or damaged more than 600 structures and burned over 7,700 acres within a single weekend in early August, prompting Governor Bob Ferguson to declare a statewide state of emergency.

What to Watch

  • Hatch Grade Fire: 9,023 acres, 70% contained, SW of Touchet (Walla Walla County)
  • Managed by: Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office
  • Fire weather concern: warming and drying trend through mid-October
  • Monitor: Washington Emergency Management Division and local Walla Walla County emergency alerts

Residents in the Touchet, Waitsburg, and Prescott areas should remain aware of fire conditions and sign up for local emergency alerts. For the most current fire information, check InciWeb or the Washington Emergency Management Division website.