TL;DR: Campers, residents and visitors at Sun Lake Campground in Grant County, Wash., were ordered to leave immediately on Monday, June 22, 2026, under a Level 3 "GO!" evacuation as a fast-moving wildfire spread, with State Route 17 and U.S. Highway 2 closed and boaters told to stay clear of the south end of Banks Lake for firefighting aircraft.

What happened at Sun Lakes on June 22

A fast-moving wildfire in Grant County prompted Level 3 "GO!" evacuation orders for Sun Lake Campground on Monday, according to KXLY in "Wildfire triggers immediate evacuations at Sun Lake Campground, closes two highways | News | kxly.com." Officials said Monday that anyone in the area faced an immediate departure requirement. The orders applied to campers in the campground. The orders also applied to residents near the campground. The orders also applied to visitors in the surrounding area.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office issued the evacuation alerts. The Coulee City Fire Department joined the response effort. Other Grant County units joined the response effort. The response addressed a brush fire described as fast-moving. The response addressed a blaze described as rapidly spreading through the region.

What Level 3 means for campers

Level 3 is the highest evacuation level. Level 3 signals an immediate threat to life. Level 3 means "Go Now." Level 3 means "Leave Now." People in the affected area must leave now. People must leave even if they cannot see the fire. People must not delay departure to gather extra gear. People must not wait to confirm smoke or flames visually.

Officials said in the evacuation notice, "If you stay, you may not be rescued," as reported by KXLY. The warning means rescue may not be possible for those who remain. The warning applies even when conditions look calm at a campsite. The warning applies to tents, recreational vehicles and cabins in the evacuation area. Campers told to leave should exit the Sun Lakes camping area without delay.

Where the evacuation area is centered

The evacuation area centers on the Sun Lakes camping area. The area includes Sun Lake Campground. The area includes nearby residents in Grant County. The area sits near Coulee City. The area sits near Dry Falls. The area sits in the Coulee City and Dry Falls area of Grant County.

The popular Sun Lake Campground and area residents received Level 3 orders as of early Monday afternoon. Douglas County Fire District 8 Chief Brandon Asher confirmed to Source ONE News that the blaze was rapidly growing at around noon. The Grant County Sheriff's Office posted an evacuation-area map for Sun Lakes. Drivers and campers were told to treat the mapped zone as closed to entry.

Which roads closed

Authorities closed State Route 17 as the fire spread. Authorities closed State Route 2, also identified as U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. 2, as the fire spread. The Grant County Sheriff's Office announced that both SR 17 and US 2 were closed near the area. The Sheriff's Office wrote in its announcement, "Please avoid the area and find alternative routes," as reported by the Columbia Basin Herald in "Wildfire causes Sun Lakes camping area evacuations."

Drivers who planned to travel through the area should avoid the roads. Drivers should find alternate routes around the closed segments. Several miles of U.S. 2 had shut down west of its junction with State Route 17 during the initial Sunday response. Officials closed SR 17 near Soap Lake to limit traffic, according to reports cited in the area coverage. People planning travel through Grant County should reroute before reaching the closure points.

Why boaters must avoid south Banks Lake

The Grant County Sheriff's Office posted that boats and watercraft should avoid the south end of Banks Lake. The restriction protects firefighting aircraft working on a wildfire in the area. Aerial units are using the south area to refill loads. The aircraft then dump those loads on the fire. Boaters and residents are being asked to stay out of the southern operating zone.

A helicopter was photographed dropping water from Banks Lake on the Garred Road Fire on Sunday. Aerial refill operations require clear water access. Watercraft in the pickup path force pilots to abort runs. Campers near the lake should keep boats beached or moored outside the work zone. Anglers and recreational boaters should choose another launch area until aircraft stand down.

How the Gerrard-Garred Road fire reignited

The fire is identified as the Gerrard Road Fire, also rendered as the Garred Road Fire and the Gartred Road Fire in local reports. The fire sparked at around 6 p.m. Sunday near Coulee City. It quickly prompted closure of several miles of U.S. 2 west of its junction with State Route 17. It took crews about two hours to contain the blaze Sunday night. The highway reopened by around 9 p.m. Sunday.

At around 10:30 a.m. Monday, crews were requested back to the fire. Authorities issued a Level 3 evacuation notice for the Sun Lakes camping area just after 11:20 a.m. Monday. The flare-up prompted renewed firefighting activity Monday. The Columbia Basin Herald reported that a nearly 500-acre fire near Coulee City rekindled Monday morning, according to Coulee City Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Jesse Bolyard.

How large the fire grew Monday

The flare-up came after the Garred Road Fire burned roughly 500 acres in the Coulee City and Dry Falls area. The fire was listed at 491.9 acres Monday morning based on a perimeter uploaded to the National Interagency Fire Center. The perimeter was visible through the Watch Duty active fire perimeter map layer. One Monday report described the fire as approximately 500 acres. The same report also described the fire as approximately 1,500 acres as conditions changed.

No structures had been damaged or destroyed in the reporting available Monday. No injuries had been reported in the reporting available Monday. The cause of the blaze had not been released Monday. The National Interagency Fire Center listed the original Sunday start at around 4 p.m. in one local account. Fire officials said more details were expected soon.

What campers should do when ordered to GO!

Leave the Sun Lakes camping area immediately when a Level 3 notice is issued. Take occupants and essential readiness items that are already packed and within reach. Do not return to a tent or vehicle inside the closure to search for nonessential property. Drive out using an open route away from the fire spread. Do not drive toward State Route 17 or U.S. Highway 2 closures to check conditions.

Keep headlights on through smoke-affected roads outside the closure. Keep windows closed to limit smoke entry while driving clear. Pull fully off the roadway only where it is safe and outside the emergency zone. Yield to fire apparatus from Coulee City and Grant County units. Follow directions from the Grant County Sheriff's Office at checkpoints.

What drivers should do around SR 17 and US 2

Do not enter closed sections of SR 17. Do not enter closed sections of U.S. 2 near Coulee City and Dry Falls. Turn around before barricades and Sheriff's Office traffic points. Select an alternate route that avoids the Sun Lakes area entirely. Allow extra travel time for detours around the Grant County closures.

Recheck closure status before resuming travel toward Soap Lake, Coulee City or Dry Falls. Do not rely on seeing flames to judge whether a closed highway is passable. Do not move or drive around closure signs on SR 17 or U.S. 2. Keep radio traffic and road shoulders clear for emergency vehicles. Park only in legal areas well outside the fire operations footprint.

What lake users should do during air operations

Keep boats and watercraft away from the south end of Banks Lake. Stay clear so firefighting aircraft can work without interruption. Do not anchor in the aerial refill lane. Do not paddle, swim or idle in the southern operating area. Move to shore or to waters outside the posted work zone.

Watch for low-flying helicopters collecting water from Banks Lake. Give aircraft wide clearance on approach and departure paths. Secure loose campground gear that rotor wash could move near the shoreline. Keep children and pets away from the water's edge during pickup runs. Remain clear until officials lift the Banks Lake aviation advisory.

How to stay ready in camp during fire season

Keep vehicle keys, identification and evacuation clothing in one accessible place while camped. Park vehicles pointed toward the campground exit after arrival. Keep tent exits and vehicle paths free of coolers, chairs and guylines. Keep a flashlight accessible for a sudden early-afternoon or nighttime departure. Keep fuel tanks sufficiently filled to leave without stopping inside the hazard area.

Monitor Grant County Sheriff's Office alerts while staying at Sun Lakes. Monitor Coulee City Fire Department updates while staying nearby. Treat a Level 3 notice as a final instruction to depart at once. Share the evacuation order with neighboring campers who may not have seen it. Leave together when possible so no member remains inside the evacuation perimeter.

Sources referenced