Kaiser Canyon Fire

Kaiser Canyon Fire, Colville Agency
AARON THOMPSON– INCIDENT COMMANDER
Kaiser Canyon Fire
Daily Update – Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Acres: 126,402

Containment: 16%

Cause: Lightning

Location: Colville Reservation, Nespelem Area

Start Date: July 16, 2026 Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Personnel: 1,004

Highlights: Lower temperatures and winds allowed firefighters to make progress and increase containment along the southern edge of the fire. The fire was active on the north side in the Peel Creek area yesterday. On the east side of the fire, the fire was kept west of Keller Ridge Road. Strategic firing operations were conducted to strengthen and expand control lines. For the latest information on evacuations and closures, check the Perimetermap and Inciweb links.

Operations: Structure protection is continuing work along Highways 21, 155, in the Kartar and Disautel communities, and west towards Omak. Fire personnel will remain in the Nespelem and Agency areas to provide fire response. A night shift presence will continue on the fire. Firefighters continue to work directly on the fire as the terrain and weather allow and will shift to indirect firefighting methods where they are not able to use direct fire tactics. Firefighting resources will remain along the Highway 21 corridor to scout, hold, and construct line.

Weather & Fire Behavior: Elevated fire weather conditions will affect the fire today. There is a local Red Flag Warning on the eastern edge of the fire near Keller Ridge. Gusty winds from the southwest will reach speeds of 25-28mph. Conditions will remain dry, with humidity levels near 15% or lower. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s and low 90s. Higher winds are expected later in the week. Warmer temperatures, low relative humidity, an increase in winds, and low cloud cover will contribute to active fire behavior. Fire will move rapidly through grass and shrubs, especially where slope and wind align. Fire spread will slow in the timbered stands with heavy ground fuels. All fuel types are available to burn.

Smoke: Active fire behavior and heavy smoke production has brought unhealthy and hazardous air conditions to communities adjacent to the Kaiser Canyon Fire. These worsening conditions will continue for the next few days. Please continue to monitor and take precautions if smoke starts to resettle in nearby communities. If you have breathing problems, try to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. If you use air conditioning, set it to recirculate indoor air or close the fresh air intake. Use a clean High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter if possible. If that is not an option, consider staying somewhere with cleaner indoor air. For local air quality information, visit the Washington Smoke Information site: https://airqualitymap.ecology.wa.gov The Omak Public Library has N-95 Mask available to the public, located at 30 S Ash St, Omak, WA.

Kaiser Canyon Fire Information:
Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 Kaiser Canyon Fire Information: 

• Information Line: 509-800-8123 office hours 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

• Email: 2026.kaisercanyon@firenet.gov

• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/CCTBroadcasts

• Evacuation Information: https://perimetermap.com/data/876-196534-polygon

UPDATE: UPDATE for the Kaiser Canyon Fire, Nespelem, WA. 
From: Colville Tribal Emergency Operation Center
andrea.carden.env@colvilletribes.com 509-634-2043 

𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 
07/28/2026 8:41 𝐀𝐌 

UPDGRADED EVACUATION: LEVEL 3 GO NOW 

AN UPGRADED LEVEL 3 GO NOW evacuation notice is in effect on the Colville Reservation for the north section of the Armstrong Meadows evacuation zone, east of Coyote Creek Road and extending north toward the Armstrong Meadows area. There is extreme danger in this area. 

• Do not wait for additional notifications or door-to-door contact.   

• Leave the area immediately.  

• Be aware of your surroundings and evacuate without delay.   

• Use caution and watch for emergency vehicles and first responders in the area.   

• This may be your only evacuation notice.   

 
The latest updates can be found at Perimeter Map.  

For questions about evacuation levels, road closures, or resources, please call the EOC Call Center, 509-634-2043.  

UPDATED EVACUATION AREA: REMAINS LEVEL 2 BE READY 

The southern portion of the Armstrong Meadows evacuation zone along Hwy 155 is now known as the Nespelem evacuation zone and remains under Level 2 Be Ready evacuation. This area encompasses north of Nespelem Agency, including the Town of Nespelem and School Loop Rd, and both sides of State Hwy 155 up to Coyote Creek Rd.  

The latest updates can be found at Perimeter Map.   

For questions about evacuation levels, road closures, or resources, please call the EOC Call Center, 509-634-2043.

Modrite Fire

July 28, 2026
Northern Rockies CIMT #3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens

Size: 10,185 acres            Start Date: July 17, 2026     Cause: Lightning

Containment: 63%           Personnel: 663            Location: 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA

Highlights: Yesterday the fire spotted across the line on the northern edge, resulting in the evacuation of the Kewa community. The fire is now active in the Falls Creek area but has not yet crossed Falls Creek Road.

Operations: As firefighters worked on the last section of their burnout operation yesterday, a patch of trees ignited and wind threw a cluster of embers ahead, which grew into spot fires that quickly pushed up the ridge of the Coyote Creek drainage. Crews safely moved north along the eastern flank of the fire, strategically adjusting their response. The fire became very active as it reached heavy fuels. As trees torched, the smoke column would build, and as the trees burnt and collapsed, the fire would spot ahead, pushing the smoke ahead of the fire. This cycle can challenge air operations, as the forward-moving smoke obscures the landscape so that pilots can’t see their intended targets.

As the fire crested the ridge into flatter terrain, the torching cycle slowed and air resources were able to respond effectively. Ground responders received support from two type-one helicopters, one type-two helicopter, two very large air tankers (VLAT), two super scooper planes, and two air attack units. These resources dropped water all afternoon and helped firefighters effectively hold the fire west of Silver Creek and south of Falls Creek Roads. There was a spot across Silver Creek Road that crews were able to catch. Fire managers are assessing opportunities to tie into the system of lines established west of the fire as they continue working to control the northern edge.

Mop-up on the Wilmont Fire is complete and the fire is being patrolled to ensure no heat remains that could threaten the lines. Suppression repair will begin around this fire soon.

Weather & Fire Behavior: The area will likely experience warm, dry weather today with relative humidity in the low-20s. Wind is expected through this afternoon with gusts up to 25 mph. A high-pressure system is projected in the area around Wednesday, which will increase warm, dry conditions. The fire may run uphill, but will slow as it reaches flatter areas. For smoke outlooks, go to https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/9b4664c3.

Evacuations: Ferry County residents should sign up for Everbridge Mass Notification System through the Ferry County webpage at https://tinyurl.com/FerryCoAlerts. For the Modrite Fire on the Colville Reservation, Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations are in effect for the Kewa and Rodgers Bar areas. This includes the intersection of Silver Creek Road (Kewa Meteor Road) and Upper Falls Creek Road (Smoke Ranch), the stretch of Silver Creek Road (Kewa Meteor Road) to Kewa Cemetery, west to Star Road, and south to Upper Falls Creek Road. This also includes the Kewa Road intersection at Silver Creek (Kewa Meteor Road) down to Rodgers Bar. Conditions in this area may change rapidly. Level 1 (Notice) evacuations are in effect for the Apex and Stanger Mountain area: South of Bridge Creek Road between Silver Creek Road (Kewa Meteor Road) and Twin Lake Meteor Road.

Safety Message: For your safety and to allow firefighters safe access to the incident, please stay out of all Level 3 evacuation areas and obey all road closures. Unauthorized entry into closed areas can interfere with firefighting operations and place both the public and emergency personnel at risk. If you fly a drone, we cannot fly firefighting aircraft. Unauthorized drone activity may immediately impact aerial firefighting operations.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCTBroadcasts

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wacoa-modrite-fire

Fire Information Line: 509-287-8176

Email: 2026.modrite@firenet.gov

~ July 24, 2026: The donation drop-off location at Colville Service Center (Old Highway Tire), located at 3041 State Highway 155, Coulee Dam, WA 99116 is now accepting household furniture and appliances for those affected by the Colville Wildfires. Items MUST be clean and in gently used or new condition.  

Currently, the most requested items are underwear and socks for both men and women, MUST be new in the package. There is also a continued need for cat and dog food. 

Thank you to the community and surrounding communities for the outpouring of support! 

Thank you, Susan Biller
PIO – WA Department Incident Management Team
425-754-4939 | smbiller@doc1.wa.gov

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞

If you have lost your home in the Kaiser Canyon Fire in Nespelem, Washington, and need assistance with relief items or temporary shelter, please contact Taressa Marchand at 509-634-0944 to be connected with the American Red Cross and begin the assistance application process.

If you have lost your home or experienced other losses as a result of the Kaiser Canyon Fire, please contact Jessica Farmer with the Okanogan County Long-Term Recovery Group for guidance on next steps and available recovery resources.

Phone: 509-846-5101

Email: jessicaocdcm@gmail.com

Wildfire Assistance & Information Contacts

If you need assistance or information related to the Kaiser Canyon or Modrite Fires, please use the official contacts below.

Fire Information Lines
Kaiser Canyon Fire: 509-800-8123
Modrite Fire: 509-287-8176

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
For road closures, evacuation questions, and available resources:
509-634-2043

Home Loss Assistance 
509-634-0944

Okanogan County Long-Term Recovery Group
Jessica Farmer
509-846-5101
jessicaocdcm@gmail.com