- Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuations ordered for Beverly and Schwana in Grant County due to the Railroad Fire.
- The Hagen Fire has expanded to over 7,000 acres, with expanded Level 3 evacuations.
- Hot, smoky conditions persist with lightning chances increasing fire risk across south-central Washington and northeastern Oregon.
- A Heat Advisory remains in effect through Thursday.
Introduction
Wildfires are forcing immediate evacuations in Grant County, Washington, as the Railroad Fire and Hagen Fire threaten communities. Hot and smoky conditions continue, with lightning posing additional fire risks. Dry conditions across the state have prompted Red Flag Watches and Warnings, as a series of wildfires continues to grow. Fire officials are encouraging people to avoid activities that can spark more fires. In Oregon, more than two dozen blazes are burning, with over 463,000 acres already burned — more than all of 2025 — and nearly 10,000 fire personnel deployed.
Railroad Fire Prompts Level 3 Evacuations
The Railroad Fire has triggered Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuations in the communities of Beverly and Schwana in Grant County. Residents are urged to leave immediately as the fire spreads rapidly. The fire started at 11 p.m. Wednesday and was burning more than a square mile Thursday morning, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office. Evacuations also extend to anyone living along Lower Crab Creek up to five miles east of Highway 243. As of Thursday morning, seven homes had been lost, and the sheriff's office estimated about 280 households are in the affected area. No injuries have been reported. Power was restored to most customers by 7:30 p.m. Thursday, though some with damaged homes remain without service. Grant PUD stated, "We have neighbors who are hurting right now, and we want you to know we stand behind you. Thank you to the first responders and our crews who stayed with this through the night." Additionally, officials reported that at least one family has been displaced due to the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown.
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated across Eastern Washington due to multiple fires, and over 143,000 acres have burned this summer. That amounts to more than 200 square miles.
According to the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team on Friday morning, the fire was estimated to have burned around 1,200 acres and remained at zero percent containment. Level 1 “get ready” evacuations were issued south of Beverly, from the Saddle Mountains to Mattawa along state Route 243. The Red Cross set up an emergency shelter for evacuees at Wahluke High School in Mattawa. All seven homes destroyed were in Beverly, and the town also lost several outbuildings. It burned inside the city limits of Schwana but didn’t take any buildings. About 280 households affected by the wildfire have lost power from downed power lines. The fire’s point of origin was determined to be an old railroad bridge over the Columbia River between Grant and Kittitas counties now used for recreation. “We spent most the night just chasing the fire and getting people out the way,” said Kyle Foreman, public information officer at the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. “It was a frantic and scary several hours over the night.” The fire picked up speed and headed in unpredictable directions because of Wednesday night’s winds, gusting at up to 30 mph as it consumed sagebrush as fuel. There were around 60 personnel from local fire districts fighting the fire overnight. State resources have since been mobilized, sending aircraft to dump water on the “last big area” of fire left to extinguish along Crab Creek Road. Multiple firefighting planes and helicopters have been spotted in Grant County, aiding in the response to the Railroad Fire, according to local reports.
As of the weekend, the Railroad Fire has grown to 8,300 acres and is 35% contained. Evacuations have been downgraded to Level 2 for people living on the east side of the Columbia River along Highway 243, meaning they need to be ready to go at a moment's notice. State fire assistance was authorized at 2 a.m. Thursday, mobilizing resources that began arriving around 8 a.m. SR 243, which had been closed since midnight, reopened as of 7 a.m. Friday. Power was restored to nearly all affected customers by 7:30 p.m. Thursday, except those with fire-damaged homes. Grant PUD closed several recreational areas: the Overlook, Turbine Park, Wanapum Visitor’s Center, Lower Boat Launch, Burkett Lake Recreation Area, and Crab Creek Park. Officials urged the public to avoid the area and reminded that drones are prohibited in the fire zone, as they can halt aerial operations. At 1 a.m. Thursday, the sheriff’s office warned: “If you are a spectator recording video, you are in danger and blocking firefighters. Leave the area now!”
Hagen Fire Expands to Over 7,000 Acres
The Hagen Fire has grown to more than 7,000 acres, leading to expanded Level 3 evacuations. In Oregon, the Hagen Fire near Athena reached 7,419 acres on July 22, prompting Gov. Tina Kotek to invoke the Emergency Conflagration Act. An incident management team and two structural task forces were mobilized. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation levels were in place for areas surrounding Bingham Road. Firefighters are battling the blaze under challenging conditions.
Kaiser Canyon Fire Grows to Nearly 90,000 Acres
The largest active blaze burning in Washington, the Kaiser Canyon fire, is 3% contained with a nearly 90,000-acre footprint. It was started by a lightning strike on the Colville Reservation, near Nespelem, July 16. Lower humidity, high temperatures and increasing winds caused the fire to spread in recent days, with this behavior expected to continue through the red flag warning in effect through Saturday. There is a chance of thunderstorms in the area, which could cause erratic wind spurring unpredictable fire behavior. More than 1,000 people were displaced as a result of evacuation orders, and 800 structures are threatened.
As of the weekend, the Kaiser Canyon Fire has burned over 110,000 acres since July 16 and is 13% contained. People living in the town of Nespelem remain under a Level 3, Go Now, evacuation order. More than 110 miles northeast of the Railroad fire, the Kaiser Canyon fire had covered over 137 square miles, nearly the size of the city of Seattle, according to Okanogan County’s perimeter map. It was just 3% contained Wednesday evening. Level 3 “Go Now!” evacuation orders were in place for residents in the Kartar Road and Coyote Creek Road areas Thursday, according to the Colville Tribal broadcast system. Level 2 orders to “Be Ready” to leave at a moment’s notice were in place in four more areas around the town of Nespelem, the tribe said. Sections of Reynolds Resort, Highway 155, Columbia River Road and Cache Creek Road were closed, while Rebecca Lake Road reopened.
Modrite Fire
Farther east, the Modrite fire was 0% contained and was burning more than 14 square miles Thursday, the tribe said. At least five structures have been destroyed. A lightning strike on July 17 sparked the fire. High winds up to 38 mph hit the area Saturday, resulting in a rapid spread of the flames into new zones. Aircraft are assisting ground crews with water bucket drops, dipping and scooping water out of the Columbia River. More than 500 firefighting personnel were trying to contain the fire.
Little Giant Fire Near Leavenworth
A fire near Leavenworth dramatically increased in size over the weekend, forcing evacuations. The Little Giant Fire, on steep slopes near Little Giant Pass, has grown from 7,000 acres Friday to more than 19,000 acres, due to high winds and escalating temperatures. It is 30 miles northwest of Leavenworth, where several rural homes have been evacuated. Officials say the fire is 0% contained and much of it is inaccessible to firefighters on the ground. So far, there are no reports of any structures damaged or injuries.
Oregon Wildfire Updates
Oregon’s wildfire season has ramped up, with more than two dozen blazes burning across the state. Thunderstorms forecast for July 22, remnants of a tropical storm from the Baja, brought rain but also lightning, which could start additional fires. The Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters prompted new Level 3 and Level 1 evacuation notices on July 22 after thunderstorms and windy conditions caused shifting fire activity. A 10-acre vegetation fire, the Riverside Fire, was reported southwest of Albany, with a Level 2 evacuation warning in place. The Rowe Creek Fire Complex near Fossil grew to 149,976 acres at 24% containment. Additionally, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality extended an air quality advisory to cover 11 counties through July 24 due to smoke from multiple wildfires.
Weather Conditions Worsen Fire Danger
Hot and smoky weather persists, with lightning chances forecasted for Thursday. The National Weather Service warns that lightning fires and human-caused fires are likely over the next few days in south-central Washington and northeastern Oregon. A Heat Advisory continues through Thursday. A red flag warning is in place from Thursday afternoon to early Friday morning when elevated thunderstorms could bring strong and erratic winds.
Red flag warnings have been issued for Eastern Washington as wildfires burn, temperatures climb to triple digits and forecasts call for windy conditions. The potential for thunderstorms near large fires exacerbated the risk of new sparks Thursday night into Friday. The region is blanketed in smoke, prompting air quality alerts from the National Weather Service in 13 counties. Some of the worst smoke Thursday was concentrated around Moses Lake, Quincy and Soap Lake because of the new nearby Railroad fire and the much larger Kaiser Canyon fire. Winds forecast to come from the west and southwest could offer some reprieve from the smoke starting Friday, though wind is a double-edged sword during fire season. “Fire concerns are part of the issue …” said meteorologist Joey Clevenger. “Yeah, the air quality might be better, but it’s another thing to worry about.” The whole eastern side of the state is under fire watch on Saturday, forecast to be windy, dry and hot. Clevenger warned of new sparks that could spread quickly. “Take caution if you’re doing anything, like with yard equipment that can cause a spark, anything that can produce a spark, to hopefully not get out of hand,” he said.
Potential Power Shutoff from Avista
Avista is alerting customers of a potential public safety power shutoff Saturday afternoon for up to 24 hours in the Indian Trail area of Northwest Spokane in the event weather conditions worsen. Avista said the planned outage is a necessary action to protect public safety and dampen wildfire risk. A public safety power shutoff is a targeted, temporary outage in areas facing severe wildfire risk, with weather conditions like high wind and low humidity. The measure is a last resort to keep the public safe. If power is shut off at a location, the utility won’t turn it back on until it’s inspected and can be done safely.
Local California Context
While these fires are in Washington and Oregon, California residents should remain vigilant as similar hot, dry, and lightning-prone conditions often affect the state during wildfire season. Wildfire risk is a shared concern across the Western U.S.
Background
Wildfires are common in the Pacific Northwest during summer, exacerbated by heatwaves and dry lightning. The region has seen several major fires in recent years, prompting ongoing preparedness efforts.
Conclusion
Residents in affected areas should follow evacuation orders and stay informed through local alerts. Monitor weather updates as lightning and heat continue to elevate fire danger.