NW Fire Blog

10/06/2025

SHOUTOUT SUNDAY | SCFD2
10/5/2025 @ 2215 hours PT

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The Skagit County Fire District #2 is also known as the McLean Road Fire Department, a single fire station that is located at 15452 Beaver Marsh Road in Mount Vernon (Skagit County), Washington.

It is a small but mighty fire agency that serves its communities well.

A Collage of Community events is shown here of how they are invested.

Photo Credits: McLean Road Firefighters Association, NW Fire Blog, Children of the Valley After School Program

10/06/2025

OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE WILDFIRES
Sunday Fire Update on 10/5/2025 @ 21:55 PT

Lower Sugarloaf Fire | This wildfire is located west of Lower Sugarloaf Peak and about 12 miles NE of Leavenworth (Chelan County), Washington, and has burned about 40,165.3 acres of timber and brush. Fire Officials have observed fire behavior as moderate with flanking, backing, and creeping. Homes are still being threatened. The fire is listed as 55% contained.

CTD: 59 Million Dollars

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Labor Mountain Fire | This fire is burning about 10 miles N of Cle Elum, Washington, in timber and brush. Fire behavior is also being observed as moderate with flanking, backing, and torching. The total of acreage has reached 38,592, and there is a 7% containment status.

Resources: 66 engines, 43 crews, 33 heavy equipment, 25 water tenders, 2 helos (shared between Labor Mtn and Lower Sugarloaf Fires), and 1,460 total personnel.

CTD: 24.4 Million Dollars

Photo Credit: Labor Mountain Fire 2025 / Taken by the night shift crew

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Wildcat Fire | Located in the Okanogan-Wenatchee Fire, this fire is said to be about 30 miles W of Naches, Washington. The fire has scorched approximately 14,500 acres of timber, brush, and closed timber litter. Moderate fire behavior has been reported by Fire Officials along with backing, flanking, and single-tree torching. Structures are threatened. One structure has been reported as being destroyed. This fire was lightning-caused and ignited on 8/25/2025.

CTD: 18.6 Million Dollars

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Sources: NIFC, GACC, Inciweb, pages (Wildcat, Labor Mtn, and Lower Sugarloaf Fires).

10/06/2025

BEAR GULCH FIRE & TUNNEL CREEK FIRE
Sunday, 10/5/2025 @ 2145 PT Fire Update

Both wildfire incidents are sharing resources: 18 total personnel. This is a reduction of 3 personnel within the last 24 hours.

Bear Gulch Fire: Located on the north side of Lake Cushman in the Olympic National Forest and National Park and near Hoodsport, Washington State. It was sparked by an unreleased human-caused source that has burned 20,233 acres and has a current 5% containment status. CTD: 43.5 Million Dollars.

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Tunnel Creek Fire: 581 acres with 0% containment status. Fire Officials are reporting minimal fire behavior observed. CTD: Unknown.

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According to Fire Officials: (Courtesy of Bear Gulch Fire 2025)

What is fire containment?
"Fire containment is completed when a secure perimeter has been established around the fire using natural barriers, roads, or hand-dug lines and verified by firefighters on the ground. Fire Managers will not declare a fire contained until they can validate with confidence that the fire will not progress beyond the perimeter control lines.

When terrain is too steep or hazardous to safely insert crews, Infrared (IR) flights are conducted over fire areas to determine the fire's edge, detect hot spots that can potentially reignite, and map the fire's perimeter. 100% containment does not mean the fire is out; it only means there is a high degree of confidence that the fire will not spread further.

Uncontained fires can persist for weeks or months, burning within the perimeter or spreading if conditions change. With the wet weather received the Bear Gulch Fire activity remains minimal, smoldering in heavy wet downed timber within the perimeter.

The fire may not be OUT, but as we move into wetter months, there is a good probability the fire will burn itself out over the winter."

Photo Credit: Bear Gulch Fire 2025
Photo Description: Uploaded 9/17/2025 @ 1159 PT

10/03/2025

CROWN CREEK FIRE
10/2/2025 Thursday Fire Update

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The Crown Creek Fire was sparked by lightning, along with many of its sister fires, all over Washington State. This one started about 1 mile southeast of Marble on August 29, 2025.

While this one has been burning, here are some staggering stats and not in a good way. We are keeping those in our thoughts and prayers while they work to put their lives back together.

* 15 homes lost
* 40 minor structures destroyed
* 1,448 homes still threatened
* 14,192 acres burned
* 98% containment status

A total of 72 personnel remain assigned to this incident with the aid of 2 crews and 5 engines.

Today was the last operational shift for the NE WA IMT 2. Crews were scheduled to demobilize throughout today and tomorrow. These resources will either be reassigned to other incidents or return to their respective local districts.

Photo Credit: NE WA Fire Info

10/03/2025

MOON COMPLEX
10/2/2025 Thursday Fire Update

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The Moon Complex is located 11 miles northeast of Agness, Oregon, where about 18,316 total acres of timber, closed, timber litter, and hardwood litter have been torched.

Firefighters are seeing a 10% containment status today, from the wildfire that was originally sparked by lightning on September 4, 2025.

One structure has been reportedly lost. About 125 homes are considered still threatened, along with 3 non-residential commercial properties.

Fire Officials are reporting a total of 831 personnel along with 19 crews, 9 helos, and 10 engines. These resources are under the management of the Northwest Team 7, which assumed command last night on October 1, 2025.

Evacuations are still in effect: Check local and area "Official" websites for the most accurate updates. We are pulling this info from the GACC NIFC site:

All Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuation orders have been lifted.

A Level 2 (BE SET!) evacuation order is in place from:
* Tacoma Rapids (River Mile 29) to the Oak Flat Area,
* Including Agness, and southwest from Spud Road
* The Rogue River, bordered on the northwest by Forest System Road 33 (Agness Road) and ending at Forest System Road 3318.

An interactive evacuation map can be found at https://bit.ly/MoonComplexEvacs.

The cost to date has reached 45.2 Million Dollars.

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Photo Credit: SW OR Fire Info

10/03/2025

LOWER SUGARLOAF FIRE
10/2/2025, Thursday Fire Update

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This wildfire continues to burn inside the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which was lightning-caused on 9/1/2025.

Great news from Fire Officials, with fire activity has been observed in the northern area as minimal. They continued the hard work of fire suppression and repair work and were busy returning equipment to camp. Patrolling for hot spots and other hazards occurred today.

The fire to date has burned about 39,594 acres of timber and brush, while containment has been increased to 48% in the area 12 miles northeast of Leavenworth, Washington.

About 1,189 total personnel, along with 25 crews, 65 engines, 5 helicopters, 4 dozers, and 51 water tenders, remain assigned to this incident. That is a decrease of staffing by 573 within the last 24 hours.

Evacuations are changing: Please refer to https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/emer.../pages/active-emergencies for the latest evacuation information. American Red Cross shelter services are available at the Christ Center Church, 5800 Kimber Rd, Cashmere, WA 98815.

Closures: For firefighter and public safety, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has closures in place. Visit for current closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/okanogan-wenatchee/alerts.

The cost to date has now reached 56 Million Dollars.

Photo Credit: Lower Sugarloaf Fire 2025

Photo Description: This photo, just in from the fireline, shows two firefighters mopping up ash and smoke in Division U of the Lower Sugarloaf Fire (north of Drop Point 404). Crews like the Franco Reforestation Crew (C-92) are working in extremely hazardous post-fire conditions — from ash pits that can remain hot for days, to fire-weakened trees that can fall suddenly, to smoldering dead and down fuels hidden in the interior.

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"Thank you, firefighters, for all of the hard work, tireless efforts, and your unwavering dedication to the fire service. "

10/02/2025

Quick Facts for September 29th 18,316 Acres, 1,201 Total Personnel, 28 Crews, 30 Engines, 3 Dozers, 10 Helicopters.

10/01/2025

WILDCAT FIRE
10/1/2025 Wednesday Fire Update

Another wildfire is burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, with this one being about 30 miles west of Naches, Washington.

It has burned about 14,333 acres of timber, brush, and closed timber litter, with a 6% containment status. The fire's acreage increased within the last 24 hours to 200 acres.

Fire behavior is being observed as moderate with single tree torching, flanking, and backing.

Structures are still being threatened.

The SE WA IMT team departed on September 29, 2025. The Command was turned back over to the U.S. Forest Service, according to the Wildcat Fire 2025 page.

The cost to date is 18.2 million dollars.

Photo Credit: Seth Giles

10/01/2025

LOWER SUGARLOAF FIRE
10/1/2025 Wednesday Fire Update

The Lower Sugarloaf Fire is burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, about 12 miles northeast of Leavenworth, located near the Sugarloaf Lookout, Washington.

The fire was sparked by lightning on September 1, 202,5, at 0921 hours.

The NW Team 2, a CIMT, will transfer to another team of the same caliber, but will be the NW Team 10. This will or has occurred today.

About 39,594 acres of timber and brush have been burned. Fire behavior is still being observed by those on the ground as moderate with flanking, backing, and torching. Rain fell over the ground yesterday helped but it did not put it out completely. Firefighters will remain on the fireline to continue with their 100% fire objective(s) of putting out the fire.

At the time of this update, there is a 48% containment status.

This fire is also burning partially in the 1994 Tyee and 2018 Cougar Creek Fire burn scars.

Homes are under threat, prompting the evacuation orders to remain in place. However, there are some changes in Chelan County. Check their website for the most accurate updates.

Cost to date is 53.6 million dollars.

Photo Credit: PIO Andy Lyon

10/01/2025

LABOR MOUNTAIN FIRE
10/1/2025, Wednesday Fire Update

The Labor Mountain Fire was sparked by lightning on September 1, 2025, about 10 miles north of Cle Elum. The fire continues to burn timber and brush.

About 37,239 acres have been burned, and firefighters have now seen the beginnings of more containment. Today, it is at 7%.

Approximately 742 total personnel with 21 crews, 36 engines, 14 helos (shared with the Lower Sugarloaf Fire), 14 heavy equipment, and 16 water tenders. The NW Team 12 assumed command today at 0700 hours.

Rain fell over the fireground and assisted resources with reducing fire behavior to a moderate state yesterday.

Evacuations are still in effect. Check the Chelan and Kittitas County pages for more current updates.

Officials are reporting one damaged home, and two minor structures have been lost. There are 567 homes still threatened.

Photo Credit: Firefighter Brian Knapp (unknown agency)

10/01/2025

10/01/2025

A fun family and/ir photo shoot op.

Open House at Coos Bay Fire Station 1, 450 Elrod Ave. October 8th 5-7Pm!