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1h ago

Border Patrol Arrests Two Firefighters at Active Washington Wildfire

State leaders are demanding answers following an operation with no public explanation.

Satellite view of the Bear Gulch Fire shows a dense smoke plume over Mason County, Washington, as crews battle the wildfire burning over 7,000 acres in Olympic National Forest and Park. Responders are prioritizing evacuations, air quality protection, and structure defense amid challenging terrain and heavy smoke. Imaged 12 August 2025.
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Cal Fire firefighters walk down a dozer line while battling the Pickett Fire on August 21, 2025 in Calistoga, California. The Pickett fire has burned over 1,200 acres in the Napa Valley and is zero percent contained.

Overview

  • Border Patrol agents conducted ID checks on two private contractor crews at the Bear Gulch fire on August 27 and took two firefighters into custody, according to eyewitness accounts reported by The Seattle Times.
  • Washington Rep. Emily Randall’s office confirmed the arrests, and the Incident Management Team said the operation did not interrupt firefighting efforts.
  • DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection had not provided comment or a reason for the detentions as of Thursday.
  • Firefighters on scene said agents instructed crews not to record the interaction, blocked detained members from saying goodbye, and spent several hours on the operation.
  • The episode raises questions about alignment with prior DHS guidance discouraging immigration enforcement at disaster response sites, as Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Bob Ferguson pressed for immediate information on what occurred.