08/22/2026
Wildland Fires Update
Several Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue returned from Deployment over the past few days, and some are returning to the front lines.
Kirk Huhta, Tanner Plilier, Garret Johnson, Danny Olson, and Vince Beyer returned Thursday afternoon from a 13-day tour through Eastern Washington, which included the following fires: Little Goose fire, Palouse River fire, the Alpowa fire, and the Little Giant fire near Leavenworth.
Firefighters Zo Araujo Silveria and Stu Hodnot returned Friday afternoon from a medic unit assignment on the Sinlahekin fire near Tonasket; this crew has been on assignment since the 1st week of August. They were replaced by Firefighters Tom Christopher and Ryan Satcher (pictured), who left Thursday, on the same fire.
Battalion Chief Dan Cothren has also recently returned from his assignment, as part of an incident management team, tending to Wrights Springs Fire in Klamath County, Oregon.
Deputy Chief Kurt Stich is currently on the same fire, arrived this Wednesday, and will remain assigned as part of another Incident Management Team, and is expected to be assigned for around 2 weeks.
Battalion Chief Matt Beaulaurier is on a short assignment as a Division Supervisor at the Sage Creek Fire (near the border of Lewis and Pacific County).
And finally, Captain John Croco is wrapping up his role on an Incident Management Team on the Big Grass Fire in Eastern Oregon. John is expected to return next week.
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue would also like to thank regional partners Fire District 5 (Kalama), Fire District 1(Woodland), and Fire District 7 (Ariel) for joining them in efforts to combat this especially difficult Wildland season.
