7/20/2025 Hope Fire Update

 

Hope Fire Update

July 20, 2025
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wanes-hope-fire
Email: 2025.hope@firenet.gov  –  Phone: 509-219-9554 

Acres: 7891 – Containment: 35 % – Detection: 07/08/25 – Cause: Under investigation – Personnel: 1026
Location: Approximately 15 miles north of Kettle Falls, WA and 5 miles southwest of Northport, WA

Operational Update: Yesterday crews reached a milestone by completing a control line around the entire perimeter of the fire. Although completely lined, some line is indirect, and a lot of work remains to be completed. A hoselay was completed along the dozer line on the northwest corner of the fire, allowing for a tactical firing operation to strengthen control lines in this area. Patrols around structures continued and a dozer line was completed between road 200 and Ansaldo Lake. Mop-up and monitoring continued along Rattlesnake Creek and southward along the eastern boundary of the fire. On the west side of the fire there was a spot fire that a hotshot crew and a dozer worked through the afternoon on and were able to successfully line. Rainfall last night aided crews as they continued to patrol and mop-up hotspots around structures before it became necessary to move out of the area due to muddy roads. 

Today there is a chance of rain over the fire area and potential for thunderstorms. The favorable weather conditions of cooler temperatures and precipitation are expected to help firefighters in continuing to strengthen the depth of mop-up on the fire line and continue to increase the containment of the fire. Crews will continue to work hotspots closest to structures, strengthen containment lines, mop-up and evaluate areas for suppression repair efforts.  While beneficial to suppression efforts rainfall may prevent tactical burning and limits access where road conditions have become too muddy for vehicle travel. 

Weather: Cooler, wetter weather is forecast through Wednesday with thunderstorms and precipitation expected to begin around 2:00 pm today. As much as 0.50 inches of rain could fall over the area over the next three days. Temperatures will range from 72 to 84 and relative humidity will be in the high 20’s up to 80-100 percent in some areas. 

Evacuations: Evacuations remain in effect. Evacuation and road closure information is available on the Stevens County Emergency Management Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stevenscountyem/. 

Shelters: The Red Cross Evacuation Center at the Kettle Falls Middle School, 105 W. 11th Ave, Kettle Falls, WA is now only open on an on-call basis. The Animal Evacuation Center at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds, 317 W. Astor Ave, Colville, WA remains open.

Road Closures: The Forest Service has issued a road closure for the Lael Road and Crown Creek Road for public safety. The closure is focused on the NFS roads that originate on Forest Service lands and was designed to keep those roads clear for emergency personnel assisting with the Hope Fire. This is a good reminder to limit travel within the fire footprint – it’s critical that firefighters have the space necessary to do their work.