Washington state is fighting a two-front war on its largest active wildfires of 2026, with the Little Giant Fire and Sinlahekin Fire together consuming nearly 300,000 acres in north-central Washington. Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and imposed a burn ban through September 30 as the situation intensified in early August.
Little Giant Fire
The Little Giant Fire ignited on July 15, 2026, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, approximately 22 miles northwest of Leavenworth in Chelan County. Started by lightning, the fire has grown aggressively and as of August 13–15 has burned approximately 127,000–129,000 acres with containment at only 5–7%.
Suppression resources on the fire are substantial: 58 engines, 51 crews, 168 pieces of heavy equipment, 28 water tenders, and 5 helicopters are assigned, with roughly 2,122 total personnel. Despite this, the fire’s steep terrain, inaccessible ridgelines, and ongoing hot and dry weather have made containment extremely difficult.
Community meetings have been held for residents in the area, and multiple evacuation levels have been issued for communities in the Entiat River Valley and surrounding areas. Residents at Level 3 (Go) must leave immediately; those at Level 2 (Set) should prepare to evacuate on short notice.
Sinlahekin Fire
Also burning in Okanogan County, the Sinlahekin Fire started on July 26, 2026, via lightning and has reached approximately 151,850–152,000 acres. At 42% contained, it is further along than the Little Giant but remains a significant active threat. The fire is burning across a mix of timber, grass, and understory on state land managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, located about 12 miles west of Tonasket.
Nespelem residents were among those previously ordered to evacuate as the Kaiser Canyon Fire — another major Okanogan County fire at approximately 138,000 acres — swept through the area. The Colville Indian Reservation has been significantly impacted by fire activity this season.
Statewide Emergency and Burn Ban
Governor Ferguson’s statewide emergency declaration unlocks additional state resources and allows Washington to more efficiently request federal assistance. The burn ban covers all outdoor burning statewide through at least September 30, and violations carry criminal penalties.
Washington has seen 19 large fires burning simultaneously, the second-highest state total in the nation behind Oregon. The Washington Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service are coordinating closely with tribal governments, Okanogan County, and Chelan County emergency management on both fire response and evacuation logistics.
Residents are urged to sign up for Okanogan County’s emergency alert system and monitor local emergency management for real-time evacuation level updates. Evacuation maps are available through InciWeb for both fires.