UPDATE 8:25 P.M.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources said the fire has grown to 2,000 acres.
CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. – Chelan County Emergency Management has issued a Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notice for the Apple Acres Fire.
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Highway 97 is closed in both directions from Milepost 240 in Chelan County to Milepost 255 in Okanogan County due to a fast-moving wildfire.
WSP said multiple fire agencies are on scene battling the flames, along with air resources. There is currently no estimated time for the highway to reopen.
The fire, reported around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, started near Antoine Creek Road in Chelan County and is currently burning along State Route 97 near Wells Dam, moving north. As of the latest update, it has burned approximately 120 acres.
There are no reports of injuries or structures damaged at this time.
Multiple resources, including engines and aircraft, have been deployed to fight the fire. The fire is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property, though local coordination is being handled by incident spokesperson Rodrunk, as the BLM public information officer is off duty.
Additionally, Okanogan County Emergency Management has issued a Level 1 (Advisory) for the Starr Road and Alta Lake area near Pateros. This is not an evacuation order, but residents are urged to stay alert, monitor conditions, and be prepared to take action if needed. Authorities stress that people should not wait for door-to-door notifications and should remain cautious of emergency vehicles in the area.
State Route 97 is also closed from the north end of Starr Road south to State Route 97A.
Okanogan County Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, and Fire District 15 are closely monitoring the situation. Updates will be provided as conditions evolve.
For more information, visit Okanogan County Emergency Management’s active incident page.
