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Swawilla Fire

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Swawilla Fire

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Unit Information

Washington 
Nespelem, 
Washington 
99155 
Washington 
Nespelem, 
Washington 
99155 

Incident Contacts

SA Blue Incident Management Team
Phone: 509-800-7550
Hours: 8am - 6pm Daily

This incident is no longer being updated.

Highlighted Media

Swawilla Cover Photo

The Swawilla Fire was initiated by lightning on July 17th, 2024. It is located 9 miles south of Keller and roughly estimated at 53,462 acres.  Level 3 evacuations were lowered to Level 2 for the town of Keller along the Hwy. 21 corridor north to Cache Creek. All major traveled roadways surrounding the fire are now open. 

Basic Information
Current as of Wed, 08/07/2024 - 23:11
Incident Time Zone America/Los_Angeles
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning/Natural
Date of Origin
Location North of Columbia River, East of Swawilla Basin, West of Hwy 21
Incident Commander Charlie Patterson, IC
Andy Baker, Deputy IC
Jon Wallace, IC Trainee
Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team
Coordinates 47° 56' 45'' Latitude
-118° 46'
42
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 401
Size 53,462 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 98%
Estimated Containment Date 8/22/2024
Fuels Involved

Tall Grass (2.5 feet)
Brush (2 feet)
Timber (Litter and Understory)

Fuels in the fire area are composed of a mosaic of grass/shrub (GR2/SH2) and mixed conifer/shrub/litter understory (TU5/TL8). All age and size classes of conifer fuels are represented. Low to moderate amount of dead surface fuels within plantations and harvest units. Herbaceous and live woody fuels are partially to fully cured on the exposed, south aspects and will contribute to surface fire spread. The fire perimeter is encountering past burn scars and fuel treatment areas. Fuel loading is much lighter in these areas. 

Significant Events

Minimal
Flanking
Backing
Single Tree Torching

Mostly surface fire consuming interior pockets of fuel.

Outlook
Planned Actions

In all Divisions resources will patrol and take any action necessary to keep fire within containment lines.

Continued suppression repair and backhaul of required equipment and supplies. 

Projected Incident Activity

12 hours: Active surface fire in the interior of northern portions of the fire. 

24 Hours: Fire should remain within containment lines as it continues to burn and clean up interior pockets of fuels. 

48 Hours: Fire should remain within containment lines as it continues to burn and clean up interior pockets of fuels. 

72 hours: Fire should remain within containment lines as it continues to burn and clean up interior pockets of fuels. 

Anticipated after 72 hours: Fire should remain within containment lines as it continues to burn and clean up interior pockets of fuels. 

Remarks

The Southern Area CIMT 2 (Blue Team) will transfer command of the fire at 0600 PDT to a Type 3 IMT on August 8, 2024.

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

Some moderation in the immediate forecast but continued warm and dry conditions with a slight chance of thunderstorm activity with erratic, gusting outflow winds.