Local News

Large Smoke Plume Over the Okanogan Coming From Wolverine Fire

Aug 01, 2015

The Wolverine fire was very active overnight and into this morning, growing to approximately 4,000 acres. Late afternoon yesterday a spot fire was reported from the air ½ mile south of Lightning Creek along the lakeshore. The spot fire made significant runs up Lightning Creek and is now well established on Lightning Ridge. Helicopters engaged the fire with bucket drops in attempts to slow growth.

At around 8:00pm another spot fire was reported across Railroad Creek which made a run uphill toward Domke Lake, where several structures were lost. The owner of Domke Lake Resort at Domke Lake is safe and all guests had evacuated prior to the to the fires movement. The Entiat Hotshots performed burnout operations above Lucerne to protect structures. Combine spot fires are estimated at 1,200 acres.

The main fire has also moved north across Riddle Creek and down the drainage.

Yesterday, several hundred staff at Holden Village and Holden Mine Remediation were successfully evacuated through a combined effort with Holden Village, Rio Tinto, Lake Chelan Boat Company, Chelan County Sherriff’s Office and the US Forest Service. Holden Village is not threatened but a Level 3 evacuation was necessary as Lucerne Landing was in danger which is the evacuation route for the Village. Operations at the Holden Mine Remediation have been temporarily suspended due to fire activity.

Sunday morning an overhead team will take over Wolverine Fire operations. More resources are on order to continue with suppression efforts and evacuation.

The Pacific Crest Trail Detour is CLOSED heading into Holden Village and out of Stehekin as conditions are rapidly changing on the ground. Northbound hikers will be rerouted out Suiattle River Trail to Suiattle River Road and can shuttle up Highway 20 to Rainy Pass and reconnect with the PCT.

The Detour is CLOSED southbound in Stehekin at the Harlequin Bridge/Stehekin River Road. Southbound hikers will need to backtrack or take the Lady of the Lake into Chelan. Hikers are advised to contact the National Park Service office in Stehekin or the Forest Service office in Chelan for information. Additional trail and area closures are expected in this area due to fire conditions.

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction area established and pilots should avoid the area. Helicopters and fire suppression activities will be taking place along the shoreline from Refrigerator Harbor campground north to Stehekin Landing and boaters are requested to remain well away from the shoreline in the fire area.

Level 3 evacuations are in effect for Holden Village, Lucerne, Riddle and Lightning Creek. Domke Lake, Lucerne and Refrigerator Harbor campgrounds are closed until further notice.