Evacuation orders lowered for wildfire near Chelan

CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — Officials have lowered evacuations that were ordered for a wildfire that has grown to at least 1,200 acres near Chelan as of Tuesday evening, according to Chelan County Emergency Management.

A level 3 evacuation alert, which advises residents to evacuate immediately, was issued for residents along Downie Canyon Road and Hawks Ridge Road but has since been downgraded to level 2.

A level 1 evacuation alert, which advises residents to get ready and know that danger exists in their area, is in place for several other roads in the area:

• The north side of Stayman Flats Road, from milepost 2 to the end of the road
• The east side of Highway 97A, from Knapps Tunnel to Downie Canyon Road
• Little Butte Ranch Road
• Chucker Hill Road
• All roads off Hawks Meadow Road, Chucker Run, Eagle Crest Road and Dove Hollow Road

County emergency management plans to reevaluate evacuation levels Wednesday morning.

It has also set up an emergency shelter at Chelan High School.

Just after 4 p.m. Monday, Washington State Department of Natural Resources officials reported the fire had burned 35 acres, and more than four hours later, the fire had grown to 750 acres with 0% containment.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Washington DNR reported that good progress had been made overnight on the Stayman Flats Fire and multiple air resources would be used to contain the fire throughout the day.

By 3:39 p.m., DNR had used GPS to map the 1,200 acres that were burned. Officials also said that firefighters would continue with heavy air and ground attacks as crews had reached 30% containment.

Boaters were asked to stay off the Columbia River where air resources are operating.

People in the area should remain alert, monitor conditions and follow evacuation notices on the Chelan County Emergency Incident Map.

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