Katy Creek 2025
Katy Creek has burned 4,680 acres, burning 25 miles southeast of Grand Forks.
Latest update
The Katy Creek Fire started on August 30, 2025, following lightning strikes in the Colville National Forest, northwest of Kettle Falls, Washington. Burning in steep, rocky terrain with heavy timber, the fire posed challenges for direct suppression and required extensive use of hand crews and aerial resources. Early growth reached several hundred acres within days, ultimately expanding to nearly 4,700 acres. The fire threatened nearby structures and prompted road closures and area restrictions to protect public safety. Fire behavior ranged from smoldering and creeping to isolated torching and spotting under dry, windy conditions. Containment steadily increased as crews conducted mop-up, firing operations, and hazard tree mitigation, with the fire reported at over 90 percent contained in late September. Managed in coordination with other regional incidents, the Katy Creek Fire highlighted both the difficulty of firefighting in rugged forest terrain and the effectiveness of coordinated interagency response.
Closures: Colville National Forest initially implemented a closure order for the Katy Creek Fire but reduced the size on Sept 23, 2025. View the entire order and map on their website.
Evacuations: Ferry County Sheriff's Office lifted all evacuations on Sept 26, 2025. You can get futures alerts about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for the Ferry County Alert System. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile, or business phones, email address, text messages, and more.