Wildfire — Okanogan Valley, Washington

2014-07-14 to 2014-07-31 · Okanogan Valley, Washington

Event narrative

The lightning-caused fire, which began July 14, blackened 269,186 acres; leveled approximately 325 homes; 146 barns, outbuildings and fences; damaged utilities; killed cattle, wildlife and other stock; and destroyed or damaged orchards, crops, forest and range land. Total cost to fight the fire was approximately 87 million dollars. The fire spanned two different public zones and cost and acreage is highly uncertain per zone.

Wider weather episode

The largest fire in Washington State history is now the 2014 Carlton Complex. Central Washington was in drought status. The fire was started by lightning on July 14. The complex started as four fires; the Stokes Fire, The Gold Hikes Fire, the French Creek Fire, and the Cougar Flat Fire. Explosive fire activity occurred on July 16th with very hot, dry, and unstable conditions in place. Each fire then made runs over the ridgetops and grew into one fire between July 17th and July 18th as hot and windy conditions developed. The fire rapidly spread through the communities of Methow, Pateros, Carlton, and Olema, and portions of Brewster consuming approximately 325 homes, barns, outbuildings and fences, utilities, cattle and livestock, and orchards, crops, forest, and range land in its path. The fire burned 269,186 acres consisting of a combination of brush, timber and heavy fuels.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 533409. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.