"The Hill Loop fire grew quickly within a short period, requiring a substantial firefighting effort and incurring significant costs, illustrating the rapid escalation potential of human‑caused wildfires in the region."
The Hill Loop wildfire, located 13 miles north of Kettle Falls in Stevens County, Washington, was first discovered on August 20, 2026, and is caused by human activity. The fire rapidly expanded from 30 acres at discovery to a peak of 133 acres on August 23, before stabilizing at 127 acres. Containment progressed steadily, reaching 24% on August 23, 36% on August 24, 72% on August 25, 90% on August 26, 95% on August 27, and finally 100% on September 2. Personnel peaked at 172 firefighters, and the estimated cost rose from $150,000 to $2,100,000 as containment improved. The fire behavior shifted from active with short‑range spotting to minimal, smoldering, and creeping conditions as containment increased.
Official source description: 13 Miles N from Kettle Falls, WA
Minimal; Smoldering; Creeping; Backing
Good air quality. Outdoor activity is generally safe near this incident.
Nearest reporting station: Colville. Source: AirNow.gov (EPA).
The fire is now fully contained and behavior is minimal; standard wildfire safety precautions remain advised for the surrounding area.
IRWIN ID: {E91A2ECB-D440-46DC-935C-969FC6A2F9ED}
Discovered: Aug 20, 2026
Cause: Human
Est. Cost to Date: $2,100,000
Coordinates: 48.8191, -118.032
Other wildfires that have recently been contained or dropped from official tracking in WA.
The HILL LOOP Fire has burned 127 acres as of September 2, 2026.
Yes, the HILL LOOP Fire is fully contained (100%).
The official cause has been listed as: Human.
The HILL LOOP Fire is burning in Stevens, WA.
No, the HILL LOOP Fire is no longer listed as active by NIFC.
Real-time map, acreage, and containment for every major U.S. wildfire, updated from official NIFC data.
View Live Map →