Chelan Wildfires May Spread, Officials Fear Lightning-Ignited Blazes Draw Heavy Response

Wildfires burning more than 375 acres near Lake Chelan have the potential to grow into the massive fires that blackened more than 210,000 acres in central Washington last summer, a fire official said Tuesday.

“I don’t think anybody wants to predict that, but it’s got potential. That’s why they’re ordering up all these resources,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, spokesman for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland.

“It’s very dry. All the conditions are there for it to become a large fire, but they’re taking action on it and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” Fitzpatrick said. He said about 400 firefighters are battling the fires with five air tankers, eight helicopters and other equipment. A total of 22 wildfires were ignited.

Very little rain fell during the lightning storm, which followed several days of dry weather.

The three main fires were:

Pot Peak, 14 miles west of Chelan. The fire has burned 100 acres of heavy timber and was throwing embers into the air.

Prince Creek No. 2 in the Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness area. It has burned about 250 acres on the north shore of Lake Chelan, where there is no road access.

Halfway Springs, about 24 miles up the Entiat River Road northwest of U.S. 97.