CHELAN — Firefighters have told residents of 27 homes in Mills Canyon that they should evacuate immediately because of a wildfire that has burned 8 square miles in the area about 4 miles west of Entiat in Chelan County.
Fire engines have been stationed outside Mills Canyon homes because of the Level 3 evacuation advisory, meaning “leave immediately,” fire information officer Susan Peterson said.
Another 53 homes are under a Level 2 or “be ready” advisory and 109 are under a Level 1 or “be alert” evacuation advisory, she said.
A shelter for residents has been opened at Entiat High School where a Washington Incident Management Team also has set up a command post.
The wildfire began with a house fire on Tuesday that spread to brush and grass on private, state and federal lands
About 250 firefighters from Chelan County districts, the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service are at the scene. Air tankers and helicopters have been dispatched.
No injuries have been reported, and the only home lost is the one where the fire began.
The situation could become more serious because of weather conditions. The area is under a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service for central Washington through 10 p.m. Wednesday. Temperatures in the 90s, combined with low humidity and breezy conditions mean any fire would spread rapidly.
“Things are so tinder dry over here,” Peterson said. “Any source of flame whether it’s a cigarette ash or Tiki torch, somebody barbecuing or using a lawnmower can start a spark.”
The area is experiencing “late summer conditions,” she said.
