SINLAHEKIN

active fire wildfire

Updated

ACRES BURNED

166,021

ORIGIN COUNTY
Okanogan
CONTAINMENT

76%

Environment
Right Now
Overcast icon
60°F
Overcast
Light Wind 5 mph · NE
48
Good Air Quality
TODAY SEP 12 SEP 13 SEP 14
Weather Overcast 60° 50° Overcast 77° 56° Rain 62° 50° Overcast 66° 47°
Area Fire Potential
TODAY Lowest
SEP 12 Lowest
SEP 13 Lowest
SEP 14 Lowest
Area Fuels
Short Grass (1 foot)
Nearby Structures
WITHIN
1,756
Residential
1
Hospitals
3,656
Other
Known Structures
5,413 structures
WITHIN
Response
LEAD AGENCY
Department of Natural Resources
RESPONSE LEVEL
Type 1
895 Response Personnel
Northeast Washington Interagency Communications Center
Details
Undetermined According to NIFC, the cause is still undetermined
INCIDENT DETAILS
FIRE BEHAVIOR
Minimal
NEAREST CITY
Tonasket
DESCRIPTION
1 Miles W from Tonasket, WA
OVERVIEW
Sinlahekin Fire started on 07/26 and is currently at 166,021 acres and 76% containment.

Inciweb Media

Recent media provided by InciWeb of Washington fire activity.

From the Web
External data is not official This information is compiled automatically, and is not confirmed by a human reviewer. September 11, 2026 at 1:56 AM PDT

SINLAHEKIN Fire Report — September 11, 2026

Perimeter growth halts as crews shift to mop-up and suppression repair

The Sinlahekin Fire is burning across state, federal, and private lands west of Tonasket, with residual heat isolated along the western flank near the Pasayten Wilderness. Over the last 72 hours, perimeter growth halted as firefighters secured control lines and transitioned to suppression repair and mop-up. No communities or properties are currently threatened, and crews have begun removing structure wrap around Chopaka Lake.

Evacuations and Closures

  • No evacuation orders or warnings are in effect (September 11).
  • Colville National Forest closures remain in place for roads, trails, and recreation sites across the Tonasket Ranger District (September 10).
  • Bureau of Land Management access restrictions remain in effect for a designated area near the fire, while surrounding public lands have reopened (September 9).

Conditions and Outlook

Overcast and dry conditions with light to moderate northeasterly breezes will transition to cooler weather with rising humidity and a chance of rain by late weekend as winds shift to the west-southwest. Fire behavior is expected to remain minimal, smoldering in heavy downed timber. Crews plan to continue mop-up, equipment back-haul, chipping along local roads, and suppression repair.

Cause and Context

The fire was ignited by lightning on July 26 in the Sinlahekin Valley. Control lines now secure the perimeter across rugged terrain between Chopaka Mountain and Nine Mile Creek.

Official updates current through September 11, 2026.