Firefighters are battling a “fast moving” wildfire burning near Chelan, prompting Level 2 evacuation orders for nearby residents, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Apple Acres Fire is approximately 2,000 acres in size and quickly spreading through grass and sage brush. Level 2 (Get set) evacuation orders are in place as the fire is threatening homes and infrastructure in the area, according to the state. The Apple Acres Fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday between the city of Chelan and Alta Lake in Okanogan County.
Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste approved the use of state firefighting resources to assist Chelan Fire and Rescue crews on scene. Under Washington’s fire assistance plan, state resources are used to help notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and additional resources from around Washington when a fire exceeds the capacity of the local fire department. An emergency operations center at Camp Murray in Tacoma is monitoring the wildfire and coordinating state assistance. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
