08/01/2026
Update on the fire! So far everything is still standing
Latest official update (we're at the green circle):
ModeriteFire
ACRES
40,634.8
CONTAINMENT
22%
Aug 1 at 8:50 AM
Highlights: A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning represents rare, exceptionally dangerous conditions that greatly exceed normal Red Flag Criteria. Gusty winds, warm temperatures and low relative humidity will contribute to rapid fire spread as a strong cold front sweeps across the Inland Northwest today. The potential for long range spotting could lead to a run of six to seven miles north today. Residents in Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation zones should leave immediately.
Operations: A heavy smoke inversion over the Modrite Fire reduced fire behavior yesterday. On the northwest corner of the fire in the Meteor area, firefighters focused on structure preparation and dozers constructed line along that upper western flank. Near Inchelium, crews were improving the Inchelium-Covada Road to serve as indirect line. Firefighters were also busy preparing structures in and around Inchelium. Dozer and hand line was constructed, sawyers felled trees close to homes and reduced ladder fuels, and firefighters reduced the fuels along dozer lines by felling and moving small trees. Road graders made wide swaths through grassy fields on the north side of Inchelium. Dozer line was also built around the Buttercup Community. Two loads of retardant were dropped along structures closer to the river.
A night shift of firefighters from the Bradeen Fire kept an eye on the Modrite fire’s edge on the northwest side, while the Baker River Hotshot crew conducted a successful night firing operation on the northeast corner below the Inchelium-Gifford Ferry Road. Extra support from the Bradeen Fire is expected to continue today, and structure assessments will be conducted from Bridge Creek Road up the Seylor Valley to Lynx Creek. Point protection will be the focus for today.
Aircraft operations were hampered by smoke until early afternoon yesterday. When visibility improved enough to fly, a heavy helicopter, two scoopers and two large air tankers worked the north end of the fire until evening, dropping water or retardant on areas of most active fire behavior. High winds could keep planes and helicopters grounded today but they will be used if conditions allow.
Weather & Fire Behavior: The Particularly Dangerous Situation warning for Red Flag conditions is in effect today. Winds out of the southwest will begin late morning and be strongest from 1 pm to 7 pm, with gusts 40 to 45 mph on ridgetops and 30 to 35 mph in the valleys.
