911 calls released from fatal Twisp fire: 'The fire is headed right towards my house!'

TWISP, Wash. -- For the first time, we're hearing 911 calls from the fire near Twisp -- messages for help in the moments three firefighters lost their lives.

As the fire spreads, you can hear chaos erupt as the calls get more frequent.

“There`s a fire on Wood Creek heading up the hill. I just looked out my window and the fire is headed right towards my house!” one 911 caller said.

That August afternoon, the Okanogan Complex Fire was on its way to becoming the biggest in state history. Evacuation orders were soon to follow.

“Wind shifted and he wants Level 3 evacuations for Twisp,” one first responded says to another, referring to the level of mandatory evacuations.


On August 19, the fire's flames went from threatening to deadly.

“One firefighter or multiple? No confirmation yet on firefighters. Wind shifted again, heading toward Twisp,” a 911 dispatcher says.

As the fire unexpectedly changed directions outside of Twisp, three firefighters were killed. They tried to escape in their truck but crashed and were engulfed in flames.