SINLAHEKIN
active fire 
wildfire Updated
Environment
Right Now
| TODAY | SEP 1 | SEP 2 | SEP 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | 69° 51° |  86° 64° |  75° 60° | 67° 53° |
| Area Fire Potential | TODAY Low SEP 1 Lowest SEP 2 Lowest SEP 3 Lowest | |||
| Area Fuels | Short Grass (1 foot) | |||
Response
LEAD AGENCY
Department of Natural ResourcesRESPONSE LEVEL
Type 1
Details
INCIDENT DETAILS
FIRE BEHAVIOR
Minimal
NEAREST CITY
Tonasket
DESCRIPTION
1 Miles W from Tonasket, WAInciweb Media
Recent media provided by InciWeb of Washington fire activity.
SINLAHEKIN Fire Report — August 31, 2026
Firefighters secure southern perimeters while monitoring northwest wilderness spread
The Sinlahekin Fire is burning west of Tonasket across state, federal, and private lands, with recent movement focused along the northwest flank in the Pasayten Wilderness. Over the last 72 hours, cooler weather and rain moderated fire activity, allowing crews to secure containment lines along the southern and eastern edges near local communities. Firefighters continue direct line construction and mop-up along Daisy and Disappointment creeks to protect nearby private lands.
Evacuations and Closures
- August 28: Okanogan County Emergency Management maintains Level 1 (Get Ready), Level 2 (Get Set), and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation levels across affected zones; check the county perimeter map for current boundaries.
- August 28: Chopaka Road remains closed to the public for ongoing firefighting and suppression repair operations.
- August 28: Forest closures remain in effect across the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests and BLM lands, closing Sugarloaf, Salmon Meadows, Kerr, Oriole, Tiffany Springs, and Long Swamp campgrounds along with area trails.
Impact
Wildfire damage to structures has occurred, and county emergency officials are collecting reports through a residential damage survey to assist recovery efforts. Smoke continues to settle into valleys across Okanogan County overnight and during the morning before lifting by midday.
Conditions and Outlook
Breezy southerly winds will accompany warmer and drier weather through midweek before cooler temperatures and rain arrive. Smoldering in heavy fuels is expected to continue across the interior, with isolated torching possible during peak afternoon heating. Crews plan to construct direct line near Juniper Point and Disappointment Creek while continuing mop-up and suppression repair work around Loomis.
Cause and Context
The fire was ignited by lightning on July 26 in the Sinlahekin Valley west of Tonasket. Heavy equipment operators are installing erosion control features north of Loomis to reduce post-fire flooding risks.
Resources
- InciWeb Incident Page
- Okanogan County Active Incidents
- Okanogan County Evacuation Map
- Washington Smoke Blog
Official updates current through August 31, 2026.
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