A fast-moving wildfire in Grant County, Washington has grown to nearly 3,500 acres and remains uncontained as of Tuesday evening, June 23, forcing evacuations across the Sun Lakes area and prompting a Washington State Fire Mobilization declaration.

Fire Overview

The Garred Road Fire ignited on June 21, 2026, at approximately 4:01 p.m. in sage and brush terrain in Grant County, north of U.S. Highway 2. What began as a manageable brush fire quickly exploded under hot temperatures, gusty winds, and critically low relative humidity, growing from an estimated 1,500 acres at initial mobilization to nearly 3,500 acres by Tuesday evening.

The Washington State Fire Marshal's Office has primary responsibility for the incident. Washington State Patrol authorized a State Fire Mobilization declaration, bringing in additional firefighting resources from across the state to aid overwhelmed local departments.

Evacuations and Threatened Areas

Level 3 (Leave Now) evacuations remain in effect for the Sun Lakes area, including Sun Lakes State Park and its campground. The fire is threatening primary and secondary structures, wheat fields, and critical infrastructure in the area.

Coulee City Fire Chief Jesse Bolyard confirmed the fire rekindled Monday after initially burning nearly 500 acres Sunday, with the blaze subsequently making a dramatic run. State Route 17 and U.S. Highway 2 have been impacted by road closures at various points during firefighting operations. Firefighters have worked to keep the fire contained to the west side of SR 17, with officials stating there were no immediate plans to order evacuations for Coulee City itself as of Tuesday evening.

Fire Behavior

Fire behavior on the Garred Road Fire has been driven by the combination of fine flashy fuels — sage and grass — and the region's ongoing drought. National Weather Service Pendleton issued a Red Flag Warning for the Columbia Basin of Oregon on June 23, with breezy northeast winds gusting around 30 mph and relative humidity dropping below 20 percent during afternoon hours. Similar conditions contributed to extreme fire behavior in Grant County.

Resources Deployed

The State Fire Mobilization brings in engine companies, water tenders, and command resources from departments throughout Washington. The incident is listed on the National Interagency Fire Center's daily situation report as one of three large active fires in Washington State, alongside the largely contained Upriver Fire near Spokane.

What to Do If You Are in the Area

  • Anyone in the Sun Lakes and Dry Falls area must comply with Level 3 evacuation orders and leave immediately — do not wait.
  • Check the Grant County Emergency Management website and local sheriff social media channels for updated evacuation zone maps.
  • Avoid SR 17 and US 2 near the fire area unless directed by emergency personnel.
  • Monitor InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov and the Washington DNR fire dashboard for the latest incident information.