2020

2020 History

Novel Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19)
2020-9-6 Cold Springs Fire

View Evac AREA

InciWeb

All evacuation levels and road closures have been removed.  Updated 9-21-2020 10:00 AM
Resources Information

Okanogan County Residents that have been impacted by the Cold Springs Fire can find assistance, supplies and services on our Resource Page

Red Cross assistance, please call (509) 670-5331.??

Okanogan County Central Landfill Waiver of Tipping Fees for Fire Debris Clean Up for Cold Creek and Palmer Fires

2020-8-18 Palmer Fire
Aeneas Lookout 8-18-2020 Photo
Photo from Aeneas Lookout Alert Wildfire 8-18-20 5:35 PM

Palmer Fire InciWeb
August 31, 2020

All evacuation and road restrictions have been removed.

Persons traveling on the Loomis-Oroville Road should use caution near the Split Rock boat launch area due to possible rocks on the roadway and falling debris from the mountainside.

Citizens are asked to use caution as Fire Crews are still working in the area.
Palmer Fire Update for August 20, 2020

A Type 2 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Shawn Sheldon assumed command of the Palmer Fire at 6:00 PM this evening. The incident command post is based at Tonasket. 

Firefighting efforts will operate around the clock. The fire burned actively last night as shifting winds pushed the fire north to Bullfrog Mountain. Throughout today, initial attack continued on the ground in conjunction with air support. Firefighters focused active suppression along the west side of Wannacut Lake, north of Loomis and in the Palmer Lake area. Structure crews are engaged in structure protection along South Palmer Lake and around Bull Frog Mountain. 

Level 3 Evacuations (leave immediately):

  • Wannacut Lake Road (East) from Washburn to Ellemeham Mtn Road. 
  • Toats Coulee Road to Chopaka Road, along the Loomis-Oroville Road 


Level 2 Evacuations (be ready to leave):  

  • Ellemeham Mtn Road from Ellis Barns Road to Loomis-Oroville Road


Residents under evacuation are being notified by the Okanogan Country Sheriff’s Department. Evacuation levels may quickly expand. Leave immediately if you see fire in the area. Do not wait for an evacuation notice. You may contact the Red Cross at 509-670-5331 for assistance if you have evacuated your home. For information on livestock evacuations, please contact Roger Sawyer at 509-429-8036.

Expect increased fire vehicle traffic on roads in the vicinity of Loomis, Tonasket and Oroville.  Be cautious while driving in the area.

Fire at a Glance

Size:  11,191
Containment: 0%
Location: 7 miles SW of Oroville, WA
Cause: Unknown
Total Assigned Personnel: 398
Assigned Resources:

  • Type 1 Crews - 4
  • Type 2 Crews – 7
  • Engines – 24
  • Water Tenders – 11
  • Dozers –  8


Closures:

  • Wannacut Lake Rd. at Ellemeham Mountain Rd. 
  • Ellis Barns Rd. at Loomis-Oroville Rd. 
  • Blue Lake Rd. at Lake Front Rd. 
  • Washburn Lake Rd. at Loomis-Oroville Rd. to Ellis Barnes Rd. 
  • Ellemeham Mtn Rd. to Ellis Barnes Rd. 
  • Loomis-Oroville Rd. from Toats Coulee to Chopaka Rd. 


FIRE INFORMATION: 

509-808-6720 
Staffed 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM

InciWeb:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7029/ 
8-19-2020 9:00 PM

A level 3 IMMEDIATE EVACUATION has been issued from Toats Coulee Road to Chopaka Road, along the Loomis-Oroville Road.

Persons should be aware of their surroundings and take action NOW.

Persons should evacuate away from the fire towards Loomis or Nighthawk.

Palmer Fire was first reported at 2:51 PM on 8-18-2020 as being half way up Washburn Lake Road towards Washburn Lake.

DNR quickly mobilized, bringing in numerous air and ground resources.  The winds were shifting driving the fire in all directions, consuming grass, scrubs and trees.

At 4 PM a level 2 evacuation was issued over Okanogan County Alerts as Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputies, Fish and Wildlife Officers along with Border Patrol Agents made door to door notifications for persons south and west of Wannacut Lake.

By 6 PM the fire was still progressing in all directions and was estimated at 1000 acers.

At 8:50 PM a level 3 evacuation was issued over Okanogan County Alerts as law enforcement made door to door notifications for the area west of Wannacut Lake, including Wannacut Lake Road from Ellis Barnes Road in the north, south to Richards Road.

The Red Cross established a phone number for persons to call for sheltering.  509-670-5331.

Persons needing to evacuate farm animals my contact the Tonasket Rodeo Grounds.

Okanogan County PUD was staged in the area in case they were requested to shut electrical power off.
Roads Closed:

  • Wannacut Lake Road at Ellemeham Mountain Raod and Ellis Barns Road and at the Loomis-Oroville Road
  • Blue Lake Road at Lake Front Road
  • Washburn Lake Road at the Loomis –Oroville Road

Aeneas Lookout 8-18-2020 2245 PM
Aeneas Lookout
8-18-2020  10:45 PM
2020-7-27 Anglin Fire (Cayuse Mtn)

As of 8 AM July 30, 2020 all evacuation levels have been lifted on the Anglin fire east of Tonasket and the Green Fire east of Riverside.


Fire crews are still in the area.


Please use caution with outside activity it will be very Hot, Dry and Windy the next few days.


View 7-30-2020 UPDATE from:


Northeast Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, Team #2
Incident Commander Dean Kiefer
7-30-2020 UPDATE
2020-07-29 8:00 PM


The Anglin fire is 50% contained and level 3 evacuation orders have been removed.


A level 2 evacuation order will remain in place for Rehmke Rd. south of Siwash Rd. and all roads connecting to Rehmke Rd.


Level 1 evacuations are still in place for the Cayuse and Island Mtn. areas. Crews will work through the night and continue securing the perimeter.


Anglin Fire Fire Size: Approx. 1707 acres.


Initial Start: 07/27/20 at approx. 1730 hrs.


Location: 8 miles east of Tonasket


Structures:1 home damaged & 2 outbuildings destroyed


Northeast Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, Team #2


Incident Commander Dean Kiefer


Information is being updated on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6893/ and Facebook@NEWIMT3


2020-07-28 12:30 PM


The Anglin (Cayuse) fire remained active overnight burning to the north and south west. The fire is very active on the east slope of Barker Mountain.


The fire is estimated to be 1000 acres, being 0% contained.


Okanogan County PUD disconnected 15 customers as requested by fire crews as a precaution.  It is unknown when they will have their power restored. 


A Level 3 remains in effect for the Cayuse and Island Mountains areas, including all of Rehmke Road.  Rehmke Road is closed at Siwash Road, North  Siwash Creek Road is closed at Havillah Road, except for residents that live on these roads.


The Northeast Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, Team #2 commanded by Incident CommanderDean Kiefer assumed control of the fire this morning.


Information is being updated on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6893/ and Facebook@NEWIMT3


On July 27, 2020 at approximately 5:30 PM two fires were reported along the north side of State Route 20 near Mile Post 273 to 270.  One of the fires near MP-271.5 rapidly burned to the north.?


Okanogan County Deputies arrived in the area and immediately started making Level 3 notifications in the Cayuse and Island Mountain areas.


Aircraft were diverted from the Green Fire (Tunk).


By 8:00 PM the fire was being estimated at 300 acres, with structures lost.


The Red Cross has been activated, persons affected by the Anglin Fire needing shelter should contact them at 509-670-5331.


The Okanogan County Fair Grounds is available for housing Animal. Contact 509-322-1621


As of 10:30 PM the fire was estimated at 1000-1200 acres and still very active.

Anglin Fire Photo
Taken 7-28-2020
Looking at east slope of Barker Mountain Location
2020-07-30 8:00 AM


2020-7-27 Long Lake FIre
Long Lake Fire has been contained and has been put into patrol phase
2020-7-27 Green Fire (Tunk)

ocation

As of 8 AM July 30, 2020 all evacuation levels have been lifted on the Anglin fire east of Tonasket and the Green Fire east of Riverside.

Fire crews are still in the area.

Please use caution with outside activity it will be very Hot, Dry and Windy the next few days.

View 7-30-2020 UPDATE from:
Northeast Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, Team #2
Incident Commander Dean Kiefer
7-30-2020 UPDATE
2020-07-29 8:00 PM

Today crews continued mop up operations and repairing areas effected by suppression efforts.

The Green fire is 90% contained and remains under a level 1 evacuation order.

Fire Size: Approx. 1480 acres

Initial Start: 07/27/20 at approx. 1600 hrs.

Location: 12 miles northeast of Riverside

Structures Lost: 0

Northeast Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, Team #2
Incident Commander Dean Kiefer

Information is being updated on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6893/ and Facebook@NEWIMT3
2020-07-28 12:30 PM

The Green Fire (Tunk) is estimated to be at 800 acres, it is trailed and lined, NOT contained. 

The Level 2 that was issued yesterday has been reduced to a Level 1.

JH Green road is closed except for residents that live on JH Green road.

JH Green road is closed due to heavy fire vehicle traffic and poor road conditions. 

Crews will continue to work on the Green fire for a few days.

Persons are asked to remain clear of the area.

On July 27, 2020 at approximately 4:12 PM Okanogan County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a report of a single vehicle collision off the roadway near 1298 Tunk Creek Road (near J H Green Road) and that it had caused a fire. 

The fire quickly spread to the north.  Level 2 evacuations were issued for Chewiliken Road, J H Green Road and surrounding areas. Both by Deputies and Okanogan County Alerts.

Okanogan County PUD crews worked on extinguishing power poles that caught fire to maintain power service.

At 5:30 PM a second fire started on SR 20, which diverted some resources away from the Green Fire.

As of 10:00 PM the fire was estimated at being 700 acres and forward progression had been stopped.