Aeneas Valley Fire

07/18/2026

We are closely watching the Kaiser Fire outside Nespelem. Although this fire is a long way from Aeneas Valley, it's mimicking behaviors from the 2015 North Star Fire. That fire did move far enough to threaten us.

Our AV Fire leadership is making a plan in case the fire moves our way. Details are still in flux, but please know we're paying attention. We're "on it."

At this time we are NOT issuing evacuations or even advisories. But it wouldn't hurt to prepare yourself for that possibility.

If your evac plan includes an RV or trailer, make sure there's air in the tires and the tongue jack works. If you have animals, figure out how you'll move them and where.

Clear defensible space around your home. In particular, woodpiles next to homes are great places for embers to catch. If it's moveable and combustible, get it away from your house now.

We will keep you advised. As we do this planning, we are also keeping the people of Nespelem in our thoughts and prayers. We hope you will too.

Let's all stay out there.

07/17/2026

Update #2 and Final 1:00pm

Hey there, Sneed Fire. Don’t think it hasn’t been fun, but we’re gonna bounce.

Please meet our good friends from DNR and USFS. They’ll be taking good care of you from here on in.

Seriously, this fire is significantly knocked down. From a strategic standpoint it’s outside our district which has to be our priority. We need to get our tanks topped off and be ready if something bubbles up IN our district later today.

We held the fire to about an acre. It’s wet-lined and in good shape for a transition to state and federal teams. We were happy to make the initial attack and hold it small while awaiting the cavalry.

We don’t have solid information on the other fire on Bailey. Since it’s not our response, we shouldn’t be talking about it anyway.

That is all.

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Update #1 12:18pm

Forward progress stopped. Fire at about an acre. Still working hard on this one because “fire weather” is worst later in the day. We don’t want this to get new life when the heat rises and the wind kicks up.

Also, from this location we can see a fire across the Valley. We are directing other resources to that one.

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New fire.

While returning from the earlier smoke report we found a fire off the 30-400 road.

Lots of resources on scene because we were all already out here.

More to follow.

07/17/2026

Update #1 and Final - 10:15am

The smoke report at AVR and 30 Road appears to be a duplicate of yesterday’s report of a well driller.

However, while checking this we spotted smoke well out into the national forest. We made USFS aware and they have eyes on it. They will handle that.

No threat to our district.

Over and out.

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Report of smoke at Aeneas Valley Road and the FS 30 Road (“Crawfish Lake Road.”)

Several resources responding. Will advise here.

07/16/2026

Update #2 and Final 10:42am

We are unable to find another source of smoke and believe this was indeed dust from drilling.

Good Job to the reporting party! Way to be on your toes.

Let’s all stay out there.

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Update #1 10:26am

First units on scene found a well driller putting up a lot of dust, not smoke. We are verifying that’s what the reporting party saw.

Will advise when confirmed either way.

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Fire reported lower Cape Labelle. Units enroute, will advise.

07/15/2026

The forecast is for some concerning weather this evening and overnight. Please remember that lightning strikes hide from us, sometimes for days, before flaring up. They are also the hardest for us to find. They hit anywhere, and are sometimes a long way from any road we can check.

Please review our earlier post about providing azimuths to 911 when you call in. You using your compass is just a miniature version of how the professionals used to find fires from lookout stations. It really works!

Let's all stay out there.

07/11/2026

We did this about a year ago but it bears repeating. We also have one new piece of information.

You've heard the old saying "can't see the forest for the trees?" Well sometimes we can't see the FIRE for the trees. The smoke is perfectly visible from down on AVR. When we head into the forest the trees and ridgelines block our view.

One of the things YOU can do when reporting smoke is use the compass in your phone to give us an azimuth. Hold your phone flat and point the top of the phone at the smoke. Give that information to 911.

"I'm at 20 Bench Creek Road and I see smoke on an azimuth of 284 True." We can plot that line on a map, and it gives us a clue which roads to drive.

If you have to drive home to get phone coverage then screen-shot your phone while pointing it at the smoke. Once home you can give the dispatcher the lat/long of where you were. Lat/Long is the series of numbers right below the Azimuth.

What we didn't mention last year was that you need to be using TRUE north, or we'll be way off. There's a switch in Settings>Apps>Compass titled "Use True North."

Pro Tip: If two callers do this from different locations then we can plot both lines. Where they cross will be at least close to the fire. That will be a huge help.

We know it sounds weird that a fire department can't find the fire, but it's reality out in the deep woods. We will appreciate all the help you can give us.

Let's all stay out there.

07/10/2026

Lots going on tonight in the fire world. Right now our thoughts are with residents and firefighters in Okanogan.

We're getting some smoke from there in our valley.

Just a reminder that this would be a good night to be EXTRA careful with fire and tools. There's a burn ban on, of course. But if something gets started our fire department might not get a lot of backup from elsewhere.

Let's all stay out there.

07/07/2026

The Burn Restriction has evolved into a complete Burn Ban.

Stay current with burn ban/restriction information for the County and unincorporated communities.

07/06/2026

Update #2 and Final

Fire is confirmed welllll into the National Forest. USFS on scene doing a long hose lay to access.

All AVFire units are clear.

Sorry for the delay between updates. We were all scouting trying to find this thing, including your humble PIO. More important to find the fire than to stop and set up Starlink for updates.

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Update #1 - 2:48pm

Fire appears to be well into the national forest and we can see the column in the distance. Multiple AVFire units have been unable to get to the source of smoke.

Obviously no current threat to homes IN our district.

State and feds are on the way to include aerial resources. We are staging to be ready to assist once they locate the source of the smoke.

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Smoke check in the area of the 3010 and Peony Creek. Will advise.

07/04/2026

Update #2 and Final - 5:14pm

Turns out it was 3010 and Crawfish Road not Peony Creek Road. The fire is well outside our district on Forest Service land.

There is no threat to the public.

USFS and DNR are on-scene and handling. Any further info will come from them.

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Update #1 - 4:37pm

Nothing found on either road. New info suggests maybe Crawfish Lake Road and we’re searching that also.

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Reported fire FS 3010 and Peony Creek. Units enroute.