- The Chelan Complex Fire will be renamed the Reach Fire and will merge with other nearby fires
- Long stretches of SR 20 and US 97 remain closed
- A Red Flag warning is in effect until Friday night
- Resources being stretched thin as firefighters rotate out
SEATTLE – The weather will be a big concern for firefighters continuing to battle wildfires around Chelan and other nearby wildfires in Central Washington Thursday.
"It's lining up to be an active fire day," said a fire spokesperson.
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. Friday. Firefighters can expect mostly sunny skies Thursday with highs in the mid 80s to low 90s. There will be gusty and variable winds, west to northwest, and getting strongest in the afternoon with gusts up to 40 mph possible.
"Those are extreme fire conditions with high fire potential," said fire spokesman Wayne Patterson.
Patterson said they are renaming the Chelan Complex Fire the Reach Fire. He says the Reach Fire is expected to overtake the Black Canyon and MacFarland fires to merge into one large fire.
Governor Jay Inlsee says he has requested a Federal Emergency Declaration to secure additional wildfire resources. He says 450,000 acres have burned in Washington state this year, up from 390,000 last year.
Firefighters who have been on the lines for 21 days straight are being rotated out. But Washington state Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark says that means resources are stretched very thin.
"We have orders from our incident commanders that are going unfilled. We're very appreciative of the folks from around the country that are coming to help out, but we're still really short," said Goldmark.
As of noon Thursday, both directions of State Route 20 were closed between Thornton Creek Road (Milepost 118) and State Route 153 near Twisp. (Milepost 204). Highway 97 is closed between Milepost 293, two miles north of Omak, and Milepost 310 near Tonasket. There is no detour available for US 97.
Here are the latest numbers on the fires in Chelan and Douglas counties as 9:27 p.m. Wednesday:
Chelan Complex Fire (Reach Fire)
Size: 69,445 acres (About 2/3 the size of Seattle)
Containment: 50%
Black Canyon Fire
6,761 acres
2% containment
MacFarland Creek Fire
4,708 acres
0% containment
The Chelan Complex, Black Canyon and MacFarland Creek fires are likely to merge by the end of Thursday. The Chelan Butte area and portion of the fire on the east side of the Columbia River is completely contained. The Reach fire is spreading north and northwest. The focus Thursday will be on completing the fire line along Cooper Ridge between the Reach and Black Canyon fires. Firefighters will also focus on protecting homes along the western edge. Water drops will be used as needed.
First Creek Fire
1,731 acres
50% containment
The First Creek fire crossed a line at the northwest edge, forcing evacuations as far back as 25 Mile Creek State Park. Firefighters worked through the night to contain it. Bulldozers are digging lines and helicopter are dropping water as the weather allows.
Wolverine Fire
40,470 acres
30% containment
The fire spread downslope into the Entiat River drainage and will continue to be monitored by air. At the north end, the fire has spread up the north side of the Castle Creek drainage, but has not crested the ridge. The fire is still holding at the south end on the ridge between Pyramid Creek and Graham Harbor. Level 3 evacuations remain for Holden Village, Lucerne, Domke Lake, Riddle, and Lightning Creek.
Blankenship Fire
180 acres
0% containment
Resources
Total personnel: 1,139
Structures lost
56 in Chelan County, 17 in Douglas County
