LIGHTNING FIRE UPDATE - JULY 17, 2026

🔥Cle Elum Ranger District
• The Three Queens Fire, located 1.5 miles northwest of Little Lake Kachess, had limited growth overnight and is estimated at 25 acres. Crews continue to work on establishing an anchor and securing the perimeter, with aviation support.

Recreationists and boaters are advised that aviation resources may be dipping in Lake Cle Elum or Lake Kachess as a water source to support fire suppression efforts. Be alert and move to the lakeside if aircraft is in the area.

Recreationists are also encouraged to avoid the following USFS system roads and trails due to fire suppression activity in the area. Trails 1312 Little Kachess, 1313 Rachel Lake, 1313.1 Rampart and Lila Lake, 1331 Mineral Creek trails, and non-system route to lake Lillian. Please avoid roads in the Box Canyon area, Cooper Pass (4617) and Mineral Creek Trailhead.

🔥Wenatchee River Ranger District
• The Little Giant Fire is located ¾ of a mile west of 19-Mile Campground in the Chiwawa River drainage and is estimated at 10-acres. Rappelers are on site and a fire crew is on order.

• The Nason Ridge Fire- Crews continue to monitor the fire, which is estimated at 1/10-acre and is located about 1 mile northeast of the Stevens Pass Nordic Center.

🔥Methow Valley Ranger District
This morning, the district picked up four holdover lighting fires.

• Two of the fires are contained, Hornet Draw and North Fork fires are both located south and west of Carlton, WA.
• Two of the new starts are in the Pasayten Wilderness. The Ptarmigan fire is located 4 miles from the Canadian border, and the Crater Fire is located 3 miles east of Ross Lake (North Cascades National Park). These will continue to be monitored by aerial resources.
• The Beaver Fire is 2-acres and located 4 miles NE of Winthrop, WA. Two smokejumpers are assigned.

With the hot and dry conditions holdover fires or new smoke reports are anticipated in the coming days. An aerial observation flight has been requested, and Forest Service crews continue to look for fires with boots on the ground and aerial detection.

Please be aware of increased fire traffic on Forest roads and report any new fire starts to 911.

Know before you go! If you’re planning to head to the National Forest, please be aware that Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. And with recent lightning and fire activity, check ahead to make sure the location you want to go to is not impacted by a fire closure.

Photo: Three Queens Fire on July 17 at 10 am, located on the Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. USDA Forest Service.

SCAM ALERT: Calls Targeting Families of Jail Inmates

This week, numerous people with a family member or friend in the Kittitas County Jail have received calls from scammers.

The scammers are using public information from the Jail Roster and other sources to make their stories sound legitimate. They may claim they can arrange bail, place someone in a diversion program, or provide some other service—but their goal is always the same: to get you to send money.

**Do not send money.**

If someone you care about is in our jail and you receive any call asking for money or personal information:

**Hang up and call the Kittitas County Jail directly at 509-962-7527.**

The scammers may pressure you not to hang up. They may make threats or try to use your loved one’s safety or well-being against you. Do not let urgency or fear prevent you from verifying the claim directly with us.

If you have any questions, call the Jail. We will be glad to help you sort out what is real and what is not.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions begin Friday, July 17 on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions-What’s not allowed:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal, biomass/twig stoves and other open flames.
• Smoking, except within enclosed vehicle or building, designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet diameter barren or cleared of flammable material.
• Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework, explosive or other pyrotechnic device.
• Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest roads or trails.
• Discharging a firearm, except while engaged in a lawful hunt.
• Violating any state law concerning burning fires.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions- What is allowed:

• Pressurized or bottle liquid-fuel stoves/lanterns, or heating devices and portable propane campfire pits can be used, however the device must have a functioning on-off switch, or valve that can extinguish the fire. In addition, no flammable material immediately is present within 3 feet of the device.

Protecting the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest takes all of us. We are taking action today to keep our firefighters, homes, and public lands safe tomorrow.

Get the full details for what activities are allowed during a Stage 2 Fire Restriction: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/okanogan-wenatchee/alerts/stage-2-fire-restrictions 🌲🔥
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La prohibición de fogatas entra en vigor en el Bosque Nacional a partir dieciseiete de julio

Restricciones contra incendios de Etapa 2: lo que no está permitido:

· Encender, mantener, atender o usar un fuego, una fogata o un fuego de estufa, incluidos el carbón vegetal, las estufas de biomasa/ramitas y otras llamas abiertas.

· Fumar, excepto dentro de un vehículo o edificio cerrado, en un campamento designado, o mientras estés en un área de al menos 3 pies de diámetro que esté sin vegetación o despejada de material inflamable.

· Poseer, activar o usar cualquier tipo de fuego artificial, explosivo u otro dispositivo pirotécnico.

· Poseer o usar un vehículo motorizado fuera de los caminos o senderos del Bosque Nacional.

· Disparar un arma de fuego, excepto durante una caza legal.

· Infringir cualquier ley estatal relacionada con la quema de fuegos.

Restricciones contra incendios de Etapa 2: lo que está permitido:

· Se pueden usar estufas/linternas de combustible líquido presurizado o embotellado, dispositivos de calefacción y fogatas portátiles de propano; sin embargo, el dispositivo debe contar con un interruptor de encendido/apagado o una válvula que pueda extinguir el fuego. Además, no debe haber material inflamable inmediatamente a menos de 3 pies del dispositivo.

Proteger el Bosque Nacional Okanogan-Wenatchee depende de todos nosotros. Estamos tomando medidas hoy para mantener seguros mañana a nuestros bomberos, hogares y tierras públicas. 🌲🔥

🔥URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE🔥
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
1210 PM PDT Wed Jul 15 2026

...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL LEAD TO CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

.An upper weather system moving across the region this afternoon
through Thursday morning will lead to the development of
thunderstorms starting in Central Oregon, with activity moving
north into the central WA Cascades tonight. Thunderstorms will be
capable of frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and gusty outflow
winds.

East Washington South Central Cascade Mountains-
1210 PM PDT Wed Jul 15 2026

🚩RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PDT THURSDAY FOR
ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE WA695... 🚩

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag
Warning for abundant lightning, which is in effect until 10 AM
PDT Thursday.

🚩AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 695 East Washington South
Central Cascade Mountains.

🚩TIMING...Until 10 AM PDT Thursday.

🚩IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

🚩THUNDERSTORMS...Rain amounts will range from 0.05 to 0.15
inches, with stronger storms capable of producing 0.25 inches or
more.

🚩OUTFLOW WINDS...25 to 45 mph, locally higher.

🚩PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.