Wildfire burns 4,000 acres near Chelan
»Play Video
CHELAN, Wash. - A wildfire that broke out Sunday south of Pateros near Lake Chelan has grown to an estimated 4,000 acres - about six square miles.
A spokesman for fire managers, Jeff Sevigney in Brewster, also says the fire threatens about 30 homes, mostly in the community of Alta Lake. Residents have been advised of the danger. Campers at Alta Lake State Park also have been told they may need to evacuate.
Residents say wildfires are just a part of summer life in Eastern Washington.
"in this part of the state fire is something we think about all the time, especially a summer like this summer, where we've had way more lightning than other summers," said Linda Heaton of Pateros.
Gray smoke could be seen from about 25 miles away as helicopters scooped water from a nearby river to drop on the flames that are burning grass and light timber. Firefighters were not only battling the blaze and rough terrain, but temperatures in the 90s.
"It's a slow process. This is steep terrain," Sevigney said. "It's difficult for the fire crews and they're working hard to get that completed."
Traffic along Highway 97 has also been affected by the fire -- down to one lane at times while emergency teams build fire lines just alongside the road.
The fire at this point remains uncontained. The state has called in a larger team to take over management at an operations center and about 210 firefighters are at the scene.
A spokesman for fire managers, Jeff Sevigney in Brewster, also says the fire threatens about 30 homes, mostly in the community of Alta Lake. Residents have been advised of the danger. Campers at Alta Lake State Park also have been told they may need to evacuate.
Residents say wildfires are just a part of summer life in Eastern Washington.
"in this part of the state fire is something we think about all the time, especially a summer like this summer, where we've had way more lightning than other summers," said Linda Heaton of Pateros.
Gray smoke could be seen from about 25 miles away as helicopters scooped water from a nearby river to drop on the flames that are burning grass and light timber. Firefighters were not only battling the blaze and rough terrain, but temperatures in the 90s.
"It's a slow process. This is steep terrain," Sevigney said. "It's difficult for the fire crews and they're working hard to get that completed."
Traffic along Highway 97 has also been affected by the fire -- down to one lane at times while emergency teams build fire lines just alongside the road.
The fire at this point remains uncontained. The state has called in a larger team to take over management at an operations center and about 210 firefighters are at the scene.
