As Washington's 2026 wildfire season draws to a close, one stubborn holdout continues to demand the attention of incident management crews: the Sisi Fire, burning in heavy timber approximately ten miles northwest of Stehekin in Chelan County.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center's Incident Management Situation Report dated October 22, 2026, the Sisi Fire continues to creep and smolder through timber and timber litter, with fire behavior described as minimal. The blaze, which ignited August 14, is being managed by crews from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service.

Ongoing Threat to Residential Structures

Despite reduced fire activity, the Sisi Fire continues to pose a threat to nearby residential structures in the Stehekin area — a remote lakeside community at the north end of Lake Chelan, accessible only by boat or floatplane. Area, road, and trail closures remain in effect in the surrounding Chelan County backcountry.

Travelers planning to visit the North Cascades National Park area should check for current trail and area closures before heading out. The Ross Lake area of North Cascades National Park also maintains backcountry closures related to fire activity from the 2026 season.

Garda Falls Fire Smoldering in Rainier Wilderness

A second fire is also being monitored in Washington: the Garda Falls Fire in Mount Rainier National Park, which ignited August 24. This high-elevation blaze is smoldering in remote wilderness, and federal managers are monitoring it with no current threats to park facilities or nearby communities. No closures to developed park areas are associated with this fire.

Statewide Conditions: Autumn Has Arrived

Across Washington broadly, fire conditions have shifted firmly into autumn mode. No red flag warnings or fire weather watches are currently in effect statewide. Regional preparedness remains at Level 1 — the lowest tier — with significant fire potential at minimal levels.

Chilly daytime temperatures, near-freezing overnight lows, and increasing cloud cover are keeping fire behavior suppressed across the Cascade Range. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is capitalizing on the calm conditions to conduct fall prescribed burning operations across central Washington, taking advantage of favorable fuel moisture levels to accomplish fuels reduction work.

What Residents and Visitors Should Know

  • Backcountry trail and area closures remain active near the Sisi Fire — check the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF website for current closure maps before hiking or recreating in the Stehekin area.
  • North Cascades National Park's Ross Lake area maintains access restrictions. Consult the park website before planning backcountry trips.
  • Smoke from prescribed burning in central Washington may be visible and can temporarily affect local air quality. Check AirNow.gov for current conditions.
  • Campfires must be fully drowned and cold to the touch before leaving any campsite, even now that fire danger is low.

For real-time fire information, visit InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov or follow the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on social media for the latest Sisi Fire updates.