Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 to Washington State today, responding to a request from the Washington Department of Natural Resources under the Northwest Compact Agreement. This elite team will assist in managing the Sinlahekin Fire, which is burning in rural Okanogan County amidst a severe, climate-driven fire season across the western United States.
The Sinlahekin Fire, ignited by a lightning strike on Sunday, July 26, approximately 12 miles west of Tonasket, has rapidly expanded to over 8,500 acres in just three days. Its growth is fueled by dry grass and timber, with challenging terrain featuring rolling boulders, falling dead trees, and rocky ledges that hinder direct firefighting efforts. Forecasters anticipate windier conditions, potentially exacerbating the blaze and limiting aerial support.
Governor Newsom emphasized California's proactive stance, saying, "With fires burning from California to Washington and across the West, California isn’t sitting on the sidelines. We’ve built the technology, the staffing, and the capacity not just to fight our own fires, but to send help when our neighbors are in trouble. From Bainbridge Island to Burgundy, California is showing what real climate and wildfire leadership looks like." This marks the first time a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team has been sent to Washington under this agreement.
California's ability to provide such aid stems from its sustained investments in modern firefighting tools, aircraft, and year-round staffing, enabling the state to support other communities while maintaining strong protections at home. CAL FIRE maintains six Type 1 All-Hazard/Complex Incident Management Teams, which are specialized in coordinating large-scale emergencies. Since 2020, these teams have been activated 65 times for complex incidents.
Beyond Washington, CAL FIRE and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have deployed resources and experts to multiple states, including Colorado and Oregon, and provided technical assistance and training to French officials preparing for their own wildfires. CAL FIRE Director, Chief Joe Tyler, affirmed this commitment, saying, "Wildfires do not recognize boundaries, nor does our shared commitment to helping one another. Our Incident Management Teams are among the most experienced in the world, and we are proud to support our partners in Washington as they work to protect lives, communities, and natural resources." California continues to strengthen mutual aid systems and invest in technology, often stepping in where federal disaster leadership has lagged.