Washington State is enduring one of its costliest and most destructive wildfire seasons on record. As of August 27, more than 631,000 acres have burned across the state, and suppression costs have surpassed $557 million. Sixteen large fires remain active, requiring support from incident management teams drawn from across the country as well as international firefighting crews.

A statewide wildfire emergency declaration is in effect, and a total burn ban covering all 39 Washington counties runs through September 30, 2026. The ban prohibits outdoor and agricultural burning, land clearing burns, campfires, and yard debris burning. Self-contained gas or propane stoves remain permitted on non-flammable surfaces.

Major Active Fires

  • Sinlahekin Fire (155,491 acres, 53% contained) — The largest and costliest active fire in the state, burning northwest of Tonasket in Okanogan County. Over the past 72 hours, the fire has exhibited extreme behavior including crown runs, long-range spotting, and uphill runs. Level 3 evacuation orders are in effect for areas west of the Okanogan River north toward Oroville. Multiple road and trail closures are in place.
  • Little Giant Fire (147,537 acres, 21% contained) — A lightning-caused fire burning north of Lake Wenatchee in Chelan County, the Little Giant remains one of the least-contained major fires in the state. It continues to produce heavy smoke impacting surrounding communities and has seen active fire behavior in timbered terrain.
  • Kaiser Canyon Fire (138,293 acres, 98% contained) — Also in Okanogan County, this fire has seen excellent progress by crews and is nearing full containment.
  • Grand Park 2 and Three Queens Fires — Burning near Mount Rainier National Park and Snoqualmie Pass, these fires are fueled by timber and closed timber litter. They are producing active group torching and short-range spotting, and have prompted evacuations due to threats to residences and critical energy infrastructure.
  • Spokane Complex (Autumn Lane, Old Trails, Fairview) — While these fires are now largely contained, the complex remains significant due to the destruction of more than 840 structures earlier this month in a region still recovering from the losses.

Resources and Response

The Washington Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Washington National Guard are all engaged in suppression operations. Out-of-state incident management teams are handling several of the largest incidents. Despite the scale of operations, officials say resource demand continues to be met, with priorities focused on life safety, structure protection, and critical infrastructure.

Looking Ahead

A dry cold front is forecast to push across the region, bringing west to southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, and dropping relative humidity into the teens and single digits in some locations. The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for much of eastern Washington, including the Cascades, Columbia Basin, Palouse, and Blue Mountains. Under these conditions, any new fire starts are expected to spread rapidly.

Residents are urged to have an evacuation plan ready, avoid all activities that could spark a fire, and monitor local emergency alerts through the Washington Emergency Management Division and county emergency management offices.