Full Breakdown
White Swan Evacuated as Two Wildfires Threaten Community
7/28/2026, 11:09:57 AM
Immediate Threat and Evacuation Order
Sunday, authorities placed the town of White Swan under a Level 3 “Go Now!” evacuation after a new blaze erupted southwest of the community. The order followed the emergence of the Ransier fire, which broke out the same afternoon the Signal Peak fire—originally ignited Friday east of town—was already burning.
Fire Growth and Conditions
The Signal Peak fire had expanded to more than 3,000 acres by the weekend, while the Ransier fire grew from an estimated 25 acres to about 500 acres by Sunday evening, according to the state fire marshal’s office. Dry, charred fields and heavy timber provided abundant fuel, and a lookout camera captured thick plumes of smoke. Temperatures reached 90 °F in Yakima County, with wind gusts up to 24 mph, conditions that accelerated the fires’ spread.
Official Responses and Shelter Arrangements
State fire officials dispatched two wildland strike teams to contain the flames. In coordination with tribal leadership, local school gyms and tribal longhouses were opened to shelter evacuees, offering temporary refuge while crews worked to secure the perimeter. The fire marshal’s office reported that the strike teams were focusing on brush, grass, and timber ignition zones.
Impact on the Community
The evacuation order displaced the entire White Swan population, halting normal activities and raising concerns for homes situated near the fire fronts. Earlier Saturday, evacuation warnings for the Signal Peak fire had been downgraded, but the sudden onset of the Ransier fire reversed that assessment, underscoring the volatility of wildfire conditions in the region.
