Alpowa Fire (Washington)

Burning across 1,363 acres of private land situated eight miles west of Clarkston, Washington, in Asotin County, the Alpowa Fire has been fully contained after four days of steady activity. Driven by tall grass fuels measuring about 2.5 feet, the blaze advanced at an approximate daily growth rate of 341 acres per day before firefighters successfully halted its spread. By the time containment reached 100 percent, the incident had accumulated suppression costs totaling $511,288.

Fire behavior on the human-caused incident was characterized as minimal, creeping, smoldering, and flanking. A response force consisting of 90 personnel operated under a Type 3 Incident structure and Type 3 IC management to secure the perimeter.

This containment occurs against a broader backdrop for the nation's fire seasons, which typically run from June to October. Across the country, 2,902,022 hectares have burned so far in 2026, marking a figure that sits 47 percent below the two-decade average.