NW Fire Blog

🔥Kaiser Canyon Fire | WA | 7/20/2026


The KAISER CANYON FIRE was sparked by lightning on July 16, 2026, over the Colville Tribal lands and spread quickly. According to our Fire Sources, the fire is actively burning about one mile from the town of Nespelem, Washington State.

The current status today remains one of the bigger wildfire incidents in Washington State:

🔥62,873 acres.
🔥0% contained.
🔥Extreme fire behavior w/wind-driven runs, running & spotting.
❗Evacuations are in Effect: https://perimetermap.com/data/876
196534-polygon (Updates)
🔥970 structures threatened.
🔥13 structures lost.
🔥CTD: 4 million dollars.
🔥Northern Rockies IMT assumed command 7/20/2026 @ 0700 PT

There are 438 total personnel with 12 crews and 41 engines, plus additional equipment still battling this relentless firestorm.

According to local Fire Officials:

🔥Firefighters continue to focus on protecting the public, ensuring firefighter safety, defending structures, and establishing and strengthening containment lines around the fire.
🔥Additional crews, engines, heavy equipment, and aviation resources are being ordered to support suppression
efforts as they become available.
🏠Structure and point protection remain the highest priorities. In areas where steep, rugged, and inaccessible terrain limits direct firefighting efforts, crews are evaluating alternative tactics and identifying opportunities to safely construct and reinforce containment lines.
🛩️Aircraft and indirect suppression methods are being used where conditions and terrain allow.
🗺️Fire Map: From the 🔥PIO.

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📸: Colville Tribal News, Broadcasts and Alerts

🔥AKAWA BUTTE FIRE | OREGON | 7/20/2026 2100 PT

The Akawa Butte Fire is located 13 miles NE of Sisters, Oregon, in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. The fire is burning in grass, timber, and brush.

Fire behavior is extreme with spotting, torching, and uphill runs, threatening homes and critical infrastructure and causing roads, area, and trail closures to be in effect.

Additionally, there are Level 1, 2 & 3 EVACUATION ORDERS IN EFFECT.

County Sheriff’s issue evacuation orders. The most current evacuation information is available at:
Deschutes County: https://experience.arcgis.com/.../6f8868c4477e462b8a653a8...
Jefferson County: https://fr911orgis.maps.arcgis.com/.../weba.../index.html...

Closure Updates:
BLM Closures and Restrictions: https://www.blm.gov/.../oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

Air Quality Updates:
Qualityhttps://fire.airnow.gov/

Current Status:
🔥6,856 acres (AM update info)
🔥3% containment status.
🔥CTD: 1.9 million dollars.
🔥ODF Team 2, under management.
🔥Lead Fire Agency: ODOF/Sisters Unit.

There are 348 total personnel with 12 crews, 20 engines, and 3 helicopters.

Sources:
🔥NIFC
🔥NWCC
🔥Akawa Butte Fire Page

📸: Akawa Butte Fire Page (fire photography)
🖼️: (c) 2026 NW Fire Blog (image)

🔥Powder River Fire | 7/19/2026, 1340 PT
Incident Summary:
The POWDER RIVER FIRE is burning on BLM lands in the Vale District area, about four miles SW of Richland, Oregon, in grass and brush.

Command:
Command is under the SW Team 3, a CIMT, which assumed command recently.

Size Up:
About 18,345 + acres have been burned as of this morning's NIFC Sit Rep for Monday. There is a 25% containment status.

Fire Behavior:
Active fire behavior is being reported, including uphill runs, running, and flanking.

Fire Operations:
Firefighters continue to respond aggressively to the Powder River Fire burning approximately five miles west of Richland, Oregon.
Resources have established an anchor point and are working across all sides of the fire using direct and indirect tactics where it is safe to do so.

On the east side of the fire, crews will continue to reinforce and secure fire lines from Calk to Daly Creeks. On the south and west ends of the fire, dozers are working to establish a containment line. Additional firefighting resources are on order to support the incident.

Smoky conditions continue to hinder visibility, limiting aircraft operations. The fire is 18,345 acres and is 25% contained. Fire activity has been driven by hot, dry, and windy conditions.

Threats:
Homes are threatened.

Resources:
Resources include a minimum of 142 personnel, one crew, 24 engines, and two helicopters.

CTD:
$600k

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