Evacuation levels escalated as Little Giant Fire spreads toward Entiat Valley

OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST — Evacuation levels have been raised along Entiat River Road as the Little Giant Fire moves into the valley.

“The big movement has been down Three Creek. It's getting right to the Entiat River Road,” said Fire Behavior Analyst Dennis Burns during a community meeting Thursday evening.

Burns explained that the fire was expected to progress in this area, as it was spreading through an older burn scar and influenced by wind patterns. 

“When [the winds] have this westerly influence, all the winds want to come right through this little gap, right where Three Creeks is, and then for some reason they want to make a right turn and go right down the Entiat River,” said Burns. “What we think is, it's the influence of the Columbia River.”

Burns explained that when the Columbia River Basin heats up, the warm air begins to lift, pulling surrounding air in. 

“That drainage is going to see that effect, which is called the Venturi effect, pulling the air down that drainage,” said Burns, likening the phenomenon to a vacuum sucking air toward the Columbia River.

Fire officials said they expect increased fire growth over the weekend due to warm and dry conditions with increased winds.

“It's forcing our hand to up some of the evacuation levels over there,” said Rich Magnussen, Chelan County Emergency Management Specialist.

Entiat Sno-Park to Cottonwood (Forest Service Road 5100-124), including the Myrtle Lake area, has been elevated to a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation level. Chelan County Emergency Management said fire conditions present a specific and immediate threat to life and safety.

Entiat River Road from the Sno-Park to Stormy Creek Road (Forest Service Road 5395) is at a Level 2 (Prepare to Leave). A level 1 (Be Alert) advisory is now in effect from Stormy Creek Road to Potato Creek Road (Forest Service Road 5380).

In the Trinity area, the Level 2 advisory has also been updated to include Pole Ridge.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media