A man's silhouette stands in front of horizontal flames with white smoke rising from the fire.

Sinlahekin Fire

August 7, 2026 Kristen Halberg

Sinlahekin Fire

Since it started on July 26, the Sinlahekin fire has grown to more than 126,000 acres. On August 1, flames ripped across the hills above Tonasket and our neighbor’s orchard, @applegirlkait, lost acres of tree fruit. Just across the mountain, we battled the encroaching fire for over 48 hours as it burned through the fenceline and threatened our pear blocks. It was a dramatic couple of days, and while the immediate threat to our orchard seems to be over, so many communities in our region and across the state are still facing dangerous challenges.

Two important takeaways from this experience:

1. It may sound like an exaggeration, but we have the best orchard crew in Washington State, maybe the Pacific Northwest… possibly the world? Oaxaca Strong #oaxacastrong. With a fire of this size and strength, firefighting efforts are focused on the highest priority of protecting people, homes, and infrastructure. There are simply not enough resources to send a team of firefighters to protect orchards. It is thanks to Simon and our crew’s round-the-clock efforts that we were able to save all of our trees.

A group of seven volunteers standing on a burnt hillside with smoke in the background, holding yellow and red hand tools.

2. However you might define it, we believe in “neighborism”. Individuals from every corner of our community have reached out with encouragement, offers to deliver a meal, the loan of a 4,000-gallon tank truck, or general support in some meaningful way. It’s encouraging to be given such a heartwarming reminder of how generous and kind people can be, as neighbors all across our community have stepped up in such an incredible way.

For this we are deeply appreciative.

Here are some photos from the experience.

A large dark smoke plume rises over dry hills and an orchard in the background, with a red truck, a red building, and two people standing in the foreground.

A night scene showing a large orange and red volcanic smoke plume rising over distant hills, with a dark tree on the right, a small building, and parked trucks on a grassy lot in the foreground.

A dramatic wildfire scene at dusk with bright orange flames and smoke rising up a grassy hillside. In the foreground, a small building, a white van, a truck, and lawn chairs sit on a paved area.

A dark silhouette of a person standing in a smoky field at night, with fire burning along the horizon and bright orange flames against a black background.

Two crew members wearing white backpack sprayers with hoses, standing on a dirt path in a dry, brush-covered landscape with smoke rising in the background.

Be well everyone, and best wishes,

Hal, Claire, Simon, and Crew.

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