Two of Washington state's largest and most complex active wildfires — the Modrite Fire near Inchelium and the Kaiser Canyon Fire on the Colville Reservation near Nespelem — are consuming significant firefighting resources as crews work to consolidate gains and prevent further spread across northeastern Washington's rugged terrain.

Modrite Fire (Ferry County / Colville Reservation Area)

The Modrite Fire, burning approximately two hours northwest of Spokane near the community of Inchelium, has drawn one of the most notable resource deployments of the 2026 fire season: approximately 240 active-duty soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), arrived at the Inchelium Forward Operating Base on August 9 to assist civilian firefighters.

The soldiers are organized into disciplined hand crew teams, clearing firelines and assisting with suppression operations alongside professional wildland firefighters. As of August 12, the Modrite Fire was approximately 62 percent contained. The military deployment reflects the severity of this season's demands on the nation's firefighting workforce, which is stretched to its limits with 29,548 personnel committed to incidents across the country.

Kaiser Canyon Fire (Colville Reservation / Okanogan County)

  • Start date: July 16, 2026
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Location: Approximately 1 mile south of Nespelem, WA (on the Colville Reservation)
  • Size: Approximately 138,272 acres
  • Containment: 81 percent (as of August 14)
  • Management: Complex Incident Management Team (Alaska Team 2)

The Kaiser Canyon Fire ignited during the widespread dry lightning events of July 15-16 and exploded in size within days, forcing the evacuation of the entire population of Nespelem — an event that drew significant attention given the fire's location on tribal lands. The Colville Business Council and Bureau of Indian Affairs coordinated evacuation logistics for tribal community members.

Since its explosive early growth, crews have made steady progress. At 81 percent containment, firefighters are focusing on mopping up hotspots and securing the remaining open perimeter. Timber, brush, and grassland fuels burned across the Colville Reservation's landscape, and recovery planning is already underway with tribal resource managers.

Sinlahekin Fire (Okanogan County)

Just north of the Kaiser Canyon Fire, the Sinlahekin Fire near Tonasket has also presented challenges. Managed by Cal Fire Team 4, the fire exhibited extreme fire behavior including group torching and long-range spotting. Numerous residences and critical infrastructure are threatened, and evacuation orders, area closures, and road closures remain in effect in the Tonasket area.

Canadian Aviation Resources in Boise

To supplement the massive domestic response, two Large Airtankers and one Birddog aircraft from Manitoba, Canada, have been deployed to Boise, Idaho, under international mutual aid agreements. These aircraft are available for assignment across the Northwest and are part of a broader effort to bring every available resource to bear on the region's crisis.

Residents near all active fire areas are urged to monitor local emergency management channels, have go-bags ready, and be prepared to leave immediately if evacuation orders are issued or upgraded in their area.