ROYAL LAKE Fire (WA)

Active · 0% contained · 1,000 acres · started 2026-07-16 · updated 2026-07-17

Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).

Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).

Propelled by extreme fire behavior including torching and spotting, the ROYAL LAKE Fire has consumed 1,000 acres of tall grass just 8 miles northwest of Othello, Washington. Since its ignition on July 16, 2026, the blaze has remained entirely uncontained, with current operations managed as a Type 3 incident under USFWS oversight on federal land.

Satellite monitoring via NASA FIRMS has identified 15 distinct heat detections over the last 48 hours, signaling significant activity across the Adams County landscape. With suppression costs already reaching $500,000, the Type 3 Incident Command continues to battle the fire's rapid progression through the dense, 2.5-foot grass fuel beds.