Wildfire — Okanogan Valley, Washington

2020-07-23 to 2020-07-30 · Okanogan Valley, Washington

Event narrative

The Nespelem Transfer Station and the Colville Tribal Recycling Center were severely damaged.

Wider weather episode

The Greenhouse Wildfire started on July 23rd 1 mile southwest of Nespelem on the Colville Indian Reservation. The fire was ignited due to unknown causes, but grew rapidly under very warm and dry conditions. Level 3 evacuations occurred for many and included the inmates at the Colville Tribal Corrections Facility. Many structures were threatened and several damaged. Wind and low relative humidity fueled the fire which consumed 5,320 acres of timber and grass before contained July 30. The firefighting resources necessary to bring the fire under control were estimated at 3.4 million dollars.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 916334. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.