VIDEO: Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized state assistance Thursday for the Lower Sugarloaf Fire, which surged past 30,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire currently burning in Washington state.
Fire Protection Bureau specialists mobilized eight strike teams to assist with firefighting efforts. The blaze, sparked by lightning on September 1, has grown rapidly in the past week and remains only 27% contained as of Thursday, September 25.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service expanded closures in the Wenatchee River Ranger District, shutting down the Pine Flats Campground and additional public land near Entiat as the fire pushed north and east. For the Lower Sugarloaf Fire, evacuation orders remain in place for nearby communities. A Level 3 โGo Nowโ order covers residents living along Entiat River Road from Roaring Creek Road to Dinkleman Canyon Road.
