Global InformationThirtymile Fire information
| Thirtymile Fire | |
|---|---|
 The Thirtymile Fire crossing a road in the Chewuch River canyon | |
| Date(s) | July 9, 2001 – July 23, 2001 |
| Location | Okanogan National Forest, Okanogan County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 48°47.485′N 120°04.261′W / 48.791417°N 120.071017°W[1] |
| Statistics[2] | |
| Burned area | 9,324 acres (38 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Damage | US$4.5 million |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Campfire |
| Map | |
  Location in Washington | |
The Thirtymile Fire was first reported on July 9, 2001 in the Okanogan National Forest, approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Winthrop, Washington, United States. The wildfire had been caused by an unattended campfire that spread rapidly in the hot and dry weather in the Pacific Northwest. Four firefighters were killed when the fire cut off their only escape route out of the narrow canyon.
The fire burned 9,324 acres (38 km2) of forest land dominated by Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine trees in the Chewuch River canyon. More than a thousand firefighters were involved in suppressing the fire, which was declared contained on July 23, 2001. Suppression costs ran US$4.5 million.
A Forest Service investigation found that numerous safety procedures were violated leading up to the fatal entrapment: fire managers repeatedly underestimated the potential danger of the situation and failed to establish and maintain escape routes and safety zones. Incident commander Ellreese Daniels was later charged with involuntary manslaughter and making false statements to investigators. Daniels pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of making false statements to investigators as part of a plea deal; he was sentenced to three months of work release.
- ^ Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program.
- ^ Maclean 2007, p. 140.