Henderson Fire prompts evacuations north of Chelan before crews gain upper hand

CHELAN — A brush fire that was burning north of Chelan prompted evacuation orders and a large multiagency response Wednesday afternoon, July 1, before fire activity eased later in the day.

The blaze, named the Henderson Fire, was reported shortly before 2 p.m. near Henderson Road, according to emergency officials. The fire burned in grass and sagebrush north of the Lake Chelan Municipal Golf Course, threatening homes in the Union Valley area.

Chelan County Emergency Management initially issued Level 3 "Go Now," Level 2 "Get Set" and Level 1 "Get Ready" evacuation notices for areas surrounding Union Valley Road as firefighters responded.

Multiple local fire agencies were joined by state and aerial firefighting resources, including helicopters, scoopers and large air tankers. Officials also asked boaters to stay clear of the area so aircraft could safely collect water from Lake Chelan for fire suppression efforts.

By Wednesday evening, Chelan County Emergency Management (CCEM) reduced all evacuation notices to Level 1, saying fire behavior had moderated. The emergency shelter established at the Lake Chelan Community Center also closed Wednesday evening, with officials saying evacuation areas would be reevaluated Thursday morning.

As of Thursday morning, officials had not released the fire's size, containment or cause. However, in an update posted shortly after 7:30 a.m., CCEM announced that "All [evacuation] levels of the Henderson Fire are now removed."

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media