FIRE REPORT: Sept. 16, 2025
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 2 weeks AGO
The Lower Sugar Loaf Fire, pictured, paired with the Pomas Fire has resulted in Chelan County declaring a State of Emergency. The two fires are burning around 20,000 acres in the county. The Lower Sugarloaf Fire also keeps seeing growth with gains of nearly 3,000 acres since Friday.
COURTESY PHOTO/INCIWEB
MOSES LAKE – Last week, the Chelan County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency for the Lower Sugarloaf and Pomas Fires, which are burning around 20,000 acres. There are several level one “Be Ready,” level two “Get Set,” and level three “Go” evacuations in the county. As a result, the commissioners declared the county a disaster, according to a statement from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
Over the weekend, the Lower Sugarloaf Fire grew nearly 3,000 acres, bringing the blaze up to about 17,000 acres. The Pomas Fire saw little to no growth.
The fires below are burning nearly 100,000 acres across Washington as of Monday afternoon. This is an increase of around 9,000 acres from Friday. The blazes were causing air quality concerns regionally.
Three largest fires:
Rattlesnake Fire: 21,884 acres. 85% contained. Lincoln County. Started Sept. 2. Undetermined cause.
Lower Sugarloaf Fire: 17,298 acres. 11% contained. Chelan County. Started Sept. 1. Lightning-caused.
Crown Creek Fire: 14,190 acres. 30% containment. Stevens County. Started Aug. 29. Lightning-caused.
Other fires:
Bear Gulch Fire: 10,843 acres. 9% contained. Mason County. Started July 6. Human-caused.
Katy Creek Fire: 3,895 acres. 10% contained. Stevens County. Started Aug. 30. Lightning-caused.
Labor Mountain Fire: 4,797 acres. 5% contained. Kittitas County. Started Sept. 1. Lightning-caused.
Lynx Mountain Fire: 7,839 acres. 22% contained. Ferry County. Started Sept. 2. Under investigation.
Martin Fire: 175 acres. 5% contained. Chelan County. Started Aug. 27. Under investigation.
Perry Fire: 1,763 acres. 30% contained. Whatcom County. Started Aug. 27. Under investigation.
Pomas Fire: 3,533 acres. No containment. Chelan County. Started June 13. Lightning-caused.
Red Mountain Fire: 65 acres. No containment. Snohomish County. Started Aug. 28. Unknown cause.
Snow Peak Fire: 754 acres. No containment. Stevens County. Started Sept. 1. Lightning caused.
Sugar Fire: 96 acres. 75% contained. Okanogan County. Started Sept. 6. Unknown cause.
Tacoma Creek Fire: 3,930 acres. 36% contained. Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. Started Sept. 1. Under investigation.
Tunnel Creek Fire: 180 acres. No containment. Jefferson County. Started Sept. 6. Unknown cause.
Wildcat Fire: 8,415 acres. 8% contained. Yakima County. Started Aug. 25. Under investigation.
Air quality:
Air quality labels are decided by the air quality index number. Between zero and 50 is good, 51-100 is moderate, 101-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy and above 301 is hazardous.
Ephrata – Monday: good, 18 Air Quality Index. Tuesday: moderate. Wednesday: good. Thursday: good. Friday: moderate.
Moses Lake – Monday: moderate, 68 Air Quality Index. Tuesday: good. Wednesday: good. Thursday: good. Friday: good.
Othello – Monday: good, 19 Air Quality Index. Tuesday: good. Wednesday: good. Thursday: good. Friday: good.
Quincy – Monday: good, 18 Air Quality Index. Tuesday: moderate. Wednesday: good. Thursday: good. Friday: moderate.
Ritzville – Monday: good 24 Air Quality Index. Tuesday: good. Wednesday: good. Thursday: good. Friday: good.
SOURCES: INCIWEB, WATCHDUTY, AIRNOW.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
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