Chelan County Fire District No. 1

Leavenworth, Wash.—A severe lightning storm passing through the Wenatchee Valley Wednesday, July 28th ignited several fires on the Wenatchee River Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

The Devils Gulch Fire is located in the Mission Creek drainage, approximately six miles southwest of Wenatchee. The fire started on a ridge top, then rolled down off three sides, and is currently burning up slope, before rolling over and down the next slope. The fire is estimated between 40-60 acres in size and burning in steep, heavily timbered terrain.

Access for firefighters is poor into the area and helicopters were used Wednesday evening for suppression efforts. Crews and equipment are beginning to stage in Cashmere because road access was hampered with washouts resulting from the storm.

A Type 3 team with Dave Nalle as Incident Commander is in place with several handcrews, and dozers available and more resources ordered.

Because of public and firefighter safety concerns and threat of fire in the area, people are asked to avoid using roads and trails in the following areas: Mission Creek, Sand Ck, Devils Gulch, Beehive Reservoir, Liberty-Beehive Road and Tronsen Ridge.

Another fire on the Wenatchee River Ranger District is located 2.5 miles up Blewett Pass (Highway 97) on the south side. Crews worked all night on the two-acre fire. The fire is staffed and contained.

Additional small fires are being scouted as reconnaissance continues. Torrential rains accompanying the storm helped to put out many of the spot fires.

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The above press release is courtesy of the United States Forest Service (Dept. of Agriculture) Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.