Fire Update 8-12-2022

Lightning Fire Update

Wenatchee, WA (August 12, 2022) — Thirteen lightning-caused fires are burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Five are located on the Wenatchee River Ranger District, six on the Cle Elum Ranger District, and one each on the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts.

Most of the fires remain small, from 1/10 acre to ¾ acre. Two, however, are larger. The White River Fire is estimated at 20 acres and is burning in the Sears Creek area of the White River drainage, approximately 14 miles northwest of Plain, WA. Firefighting resources on this fire include two Interagency Hotshot crews, rappelers, and a dozer.

The largest fire is the 40-50 acre Irving Peak Fire located 16 airmiles northwest of Plain, WA. Fire behavior there this morning is low, with backing and creeping activity. Due to the very steep inaccessible, terrain, (which is incredibly hazardous to firefighter safety), the strategy for this fire is confine and contain which means that firefighters will use a combination of natural features and eventually constructed fire line to contain this wildfire. Currently, ground-based resources are attacking many other lightning-caused fires located closer to communities.

While smoke from the fire is highly visible in the Lake Wenatchee area, this fire is located in a wetter forest type which generally means the potential rate of spread is going to be slower as it burns through moist duff and woody debris. Fire managers will utilize retardant and water drops where effective and as airtankers and helicopters are released from wildfires nearer to homes and communities.

Reminder to all forest visitors, a campfire ban is in place on the entire Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Find out more about these restrictions at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600