Little Giant Fire surges past 38,500 acres after wind-driven run

OKANOGAN–WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST — Firefighters battling the Little Giant Fire faced another day of challenging conditions Saturday after strong winds drove the wildfire across the Entiat River, sparked a new spot fire across Lake Chelan and fueled significant growth on the east side of the incident.

The lightning-caused fire, burning about 22 miles northwest of Leavenworth in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, was mapped at 38,530 acres Sunday morning and remained 0% contained, according to the incident management team. More than 1,240 personnel, including 23 hand crews, 56 engines, 17 dozers, 28 water tenders, 32 masticators and three helicopters, are assigned to the fire.

The latest growth comes after Washington experienced one of its most dangerous wildfire weather events on record Saturday. State officials issued a statewide burn ban and mobilized firefighting resources ahead of a rare National Weather Service "Particularly Dangerous Situation" fire weather warning, citing forecast wind gusts approaching 50 mph, critically dry fuels and conditions capable of producing explosive wildfire growth.

Those forecasts materialized in the Little Giant Fire area.

Incident managers said the fire's most significant movement Saturday occurred on the eastern flank after a remote weather station near the Duncan Hill Trailhead recorded wind gusts exceeding 40 mph. The fire crossed the Entiat River north of Silver Falls Campground and spread along the ridge toward Shady Pass, Big Hill and areas east and north of the Duncan Hill Trailhead.

Saturday evening, firefighters discovered a spot fire across Lake Chelan near Point No Point. On Sunday morning, a hotshot crew was transported by boat across the lake before hiking into the rugged terrain to begin suppression efforts on the new ignition.

The fire is currently threatening 1,121 structures. No structures have been destroyed, no residents have been evacuated and one injury has been reported since the fire began July 15.

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said its Marine Unit was deployed Saturday to notify boaters, campers and residents in uplake areas as fire conditions changed. The unit remains available while deputies continue working with fire agencies and Chelan County Emergency Management to respond as conditions evolve.

Chelan Fire and Rescue said firefighters continue closely monitoring fire movement on both sides of Lake Chelan and throughout the Entiat Valley.

Fire Chief Andy Lee said, "Should the fire become an immediate threat, we will be there."

The department said the fire remains at higher elevations and away from structures but is moving down drainages between Entiat and Chelan. It also noted that firefighting resources have been stretched across Washington as multiple large fires burn statewide.

Although the east side experienced rapid growth, firefighters reported progress or reduced activity in several other portions of the fire.

Along Chikamin Creek, fire behavior has moderated because much of the available vegetation burned during the 2022 Minnow Ridge Fire. Incident managers said the area is producing significantly less heat than earlier in the week.

On the southern edge, crews continued constructing direct fireline north of Brush Creek and west of the Chiwawa River while helicopters supported firefighters with strategic water drops. Crews also continued building containment lines from Forest Road 6200 toward Minnow Ridge and the Chikamin Creek drainage.

Activity also diminished along Chiwawa Ridge on the western flank, where the fire has reached granite outcroppings and areas with limited fuels. Fire managers reported cloudy skies and some precipitation in that portion of the incident helped reduce fire behavior.

On the northwest corner near Maple Creek, infrared mapping has shown little growth for several days. However, on the northern edge, the fire continued advancing into the Glacier Peak Wilderness along the western slopes of Fifth of July Mountain and into the Rock Creek drainage north of Estes Butte. Spot fires at the headwaters of the Entiat River also continued growing within the footprint of the 2015 Wolverine Fire where receptive fuels remain.

Incident managers said the priority remains full suppression through direct line construction where conditions allow while protecting homes and other values at risk. More than 1,000 firefighters remain assigned to the incident around the clock to support suppression efforts and structure protection.

The fire's growth comes amid an exceptionally active wildfire season across Washington.

On Saturday, Gov. Bob Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation establishing a statewide burn ban, while the Washington State Patrol activated the state's Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan to pre-position firefighting resources throughout Central and Eastern Washington. The state also partially activated its Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray to coordinate wildfire response.

The Department of Natural Resources reported that crews from 14 states, Australia and Alaska have been deployed to Washington to assist with suppression efforts. The Washington National Guard is also mobilizing 110 Guard members to form five hand crews, marking the first request for National Guard ground support in four years. Three Guard helicopters are already assigned to Central Washington fires.

As of Saturday, DNR reported 10 large wildfires burning statewide, with more than 425,000 acres burned this year.

A community meeting on the Little Giant Fire is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at Chelan County Fire District No. 8, 2200 Entiat Way in Entiat. Fire officials will provide an operational update and answer questions submitted by the public. The meeting also will be livestreamed on the Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue Facebook page.

Smoke is expected to remain a significant concern throughout North Central Washington.

Air resource advisors forecast unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality Sunday in Chelan and Entiat, while Wenatchee and Leavenworth are expected to begin the day with good air quality before smoke increases through the afternoon. Brewster, the Methow Valley and the Lake Wenatchee area are also expected to experience worsening conditions, with widespread smoke forecast Monday morning and likely to persist through much of the coming week.

Although temperatures are expected to cool slightly Sunday, incident meteorologists said breezy winds will continue to produce elevated fire weather conditions. A strengthening ridge of high pressure is expected to return warmer and drier weather to the Pacific Northwest during the coming week, conditions that could continue to challenge firefighters working to slow the fire's spread.