Separate wildfire starts up on private land in Chelan County

A new wildfire began Thursday afternoon in tinder-dry Chelan County, diverting resources from the Mills Canyon Fire, which has burned about 18,000 acres.

The new fire began on private land in the 25 Mile Creek Basin around 2 p.m.

The Department of Natural Resources estimated the size of the fire at 530 acres.

By early evening it was advancing in the Darby Draw area toward Lone Peak.

The road to Shady Pass and Junior Point was closed for the growing firefight.

The Chelan County undersheriff told KIRO 7 about six homes were evacuated, as was the Snowberry Campground.

A man driving by the fire shortly after it began told KIRO 7 firefighters on the scene told him it began in an outbuilding and quickly spread.

A fire information officer was not able to confirm that and said the cause would be under investigation.

Two 20-person crews were fighting the fire, with two more 20-person crews requested.

Four helicopters and a plane joined the effort as fire commanders hoped to contain the fire in what they call an initial attack.

There have been many fires in the 25 Mile Creek area, and the new fire was burning quickly in fuel-rich timber above the area that had previously burned.

KIRO