HOLDEN — The Wolverine Fire is now burning around Holden Village on the south shore of Lake Chelan.
The fire grew to 36,030 acres on Tuesday — up about 2,000 acres from the day before — as it burned to the north and south of the village. Fire crews set back fires from a fuel break around the community to “nurse” the main fire away from Holden, said fire spokesman Bill Queen.
The fire has now burned up the Tenmile Creek drainage to Hilgard Pass north of Holden, and fire officials are worried it could get into Devore Creek and make a run toward Stehekin at the head of Lake Chelan.
“We want to make sure it doesn’t sneak across the top and give us problems working toward Stehekin from a different direction,” Queen said.
Fire crews have already built lines and used burnouts to keep another flank of the fire from burning to Stehekin.
The western front of the fire is also now burning in Copper Creek directly south of Holden.
Hot Shot crews from Entiat and Silver City, N.M., who are staying in Holden Village, will continue using intentional burning to secure a line around the forested communtiy. The fire is expected to completely surround the village, but firefighters feel confident they can protect structures and Holden Mine remediation equipment, Queen said.
On Tuesday, Holden Village co-executive director, Peg Carlson-Hoffman, posted on Facebook that firefighters and five Holden residents who remain in the village have been preparing for the last week for the arrival of the fire.
“The next several days are critical, and though we have been waiting for this time, there is no comfort in its arrival,” she wrote. “This fighting-fire-with-fire business has no guarantees.”
She added, “And so the complex saga of emotions continues today: confidence in the outcome, sorrow for the forest, worry for the twin fawns and their mother that are still hovering in the village, gratitude for our community, and admittedly, a-lot-bit scared underneath it all. The tremendous spirit of Holden, its people, the village, our friends, and our family sustains us in these hours.”
