Single Publication

Size:    10,940 acres                                  Start Date:  18 August 2023, 1600hrs 

Point of origin: Under Investigation 

Containment: 41% 

Cause: Under Investigation 

Total personnel: 800 

Resources: 55 engines l 17 crews l 3 bulldozers l 17 water tenders l 2 helicopters l 4 skidgens   

Current Situation: The strategy remains full suppression as crews continue to improve containment lines, mop-up and suppression repair. The great amount of work completed with this strategy has allowed firefighters to begin the transition to patrol activities in portions of the east, west, and south flanks of the fire. Activities over the last 24 hours included drone flights over the north and east flank of the fire to determine where the remaining hot spots are. 

Today’s activities: Firefighters have been extremely successful in their efforts to improve containment lines, mop-up around structures, and suppression repair. Crews will build upon their success over the next few days to continue this work throughout all divisions. Engines, hand crews and specialized equipment will be active on the east flank of the fire perimeter as they work to establish hose lays supporting mop-up efforts. Air assets will remain attached to the incident supporting ground efforts as ordered.  

A community meeting will be held at Riverside High School, 34515 N. Newport Hwy, Chattaroy, WA 99003 in the cafeteria at 5pm. All community members are invited to attend.  

Smoke Outlook: Washington State Department of Ecology has up to date air quality information at: enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/map. 

Evacuations: Level 1 and 2 evacuation zones remain in effect throughout the fire area. For updated evacuation maps of Spokane County are available here www.facebook.com/GEGEmergencyMgt and for evacuation maps of Pend Oreille County are here www.facebook.com/pocsheriff. The situation can change rapidly due to weather and other factors, please check these two sources of information regularly for the most up to date information. The evacuation center is currently located at Riverside High School 4120 E. Deer Park Milan Rd, Chattaroy, WA 99003. Spokane County has a new tool for pin-pointing your address and its corresponding evacuation status: https://arcg.is/1z98v10. 

Weather: The hotter and drier trend will continue with high temperatures climbing into the 90s. Relative humidity will fall into the teens across the fire area. Winds will continue from the northeast at less than 10mph. The elevated temperatures and low relative humidity could increase fire activity.  

Fire Information:(509) 508-3323 (8:00am – 8:00pm)       Email: 2023.oregon@firenet.gov

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/newfireinfo         Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wanes-oregon-fire