Chelan County wildfire threatens homes

ENTIAT, Wash. – A wildfire about 4 miles west of Entiat in Chelan County threatened about 200 homes as hot, dry weather raised the risk of wildfires across central Washington.

A house fire Tuesday started the wildfire in the Mills Canyon area, and it quickly spread to about 8 square miles.

Wednesday morning, evacuation advisories had been issued for 200 homes in different areas, ranging from Level 1 (“be alert”) to Level 2 (“be ready”) to Level 3 (“flee immediately”). Some were later allowed to return.

The fire has burned 6,100 acres, or 9 ½ square miles, near U.S. Highway 97A, prompting the temporary closure of a 30-mile stretch of that road between Wenatchee and Chelan.

The fire continued to grow, and smoke was visible in Wenatchee.

About 250 firefighters were at the scene with three air tankers dropping retardant and four helicopters dipping water from the Columbia River and dropping it on the flames.

No serious injuries have been reported, and the only home lost was the one where the fire began.

Another fire early Wednesday burned about 800 acres – more than a square mile – near Quincy. Grant County Fire District 3 Chief Don Fortier told the Wenatchee World it was nearly out by midmorning.