Chelan County declares wildfire emergency

CHELAN COUNTY —The Chelan County Board of Commissioners have declared a state of emergency in response to the Little Giant Fire. 

The emergency declaration was approved at the board’s meeting on Aug. 4.

The declaration follows Gov. Bob Ferguson’s announcement earlier today that the government granted his request for an emergency declaration for the devastating wildfires burning throughout Eastern Washington. The state declaration covers Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.

The county’s emergency declaration affords commissioners the ability to use local resources without going through the typical government bidding process for goods and services. It is also generally a prerequisite for most state and federal recovery assistance funding.

The wildfire, caused by lightning on July 15, was first reported in the area of Little Giant Mountain. As of Aug. 4, it had spread to nearly 59,346 acres, threatening the communities of Lake Wenatchee, Entiat, and the north and south shores of Lake Chelan. Currently, 1,814 structures are threatened and Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders are in place.

More information about the fire is available on www.inciweb.wildfire.gov.

Current evacuation levels can be found on Chelan County Emergency Management’s webpage.