A fast-moving brush fire above Wenatchee had law enforcement knocking the alert level up a notch Saturday, with Chelan County sheriff’s officials issuing Level 2 evacuation notices for the Stemilt Creek area. People living along Stemilt Creek Road, Stemilt Creek Loop and nearby side roads were told to get ready to go as crews worked to corral the flames. Firefighters on scene reported active fire, heavy smoke and enough concern to call in extra resources on both the ground and in the air.
According to NewsRadio 560 KPQ, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office issued a mix of Level 2 and Level 1 alerts covering Stemilt Loop Road from Pinedale Road to Edgemont Drive and Stemilt Creek Road from 6254 Stemilt Creek Road to Stemilt Hill Road, along with side roads around Clear Lake and Lilly Lake. NewsRadio 560 KPQ reported the fire at about 30 acres as of 2 p.m., with a fixed-wing scooper and a helicopter assigned and a strike team requested.
What Level 2 Means And Where To Check
Chelan County describes Level 2 as “Get Set,” which is the stage where residents stay closely informed, pull together emergency kits and leave early if they feel unsafe or know they will need extra time for things like moving large animals or small children. Per Chelan County Emergency Management, people in the affected zones should have important papers, prescriptions, pet supplies and vehicles ready to roll, and should follow the county’s incident map and official pages for the latest directions.
Regional Fire Activity Adds Urgency
The Stemilt Creek alerts are landing in the middle of a very busy wildfire stretch in Central Washington. Earlier this month, the Chelan Hills fire burned thousands of acres and forced evacuations, a reminder of how fast conditions can go sideways, as reported by The Spokesman-Review. Recent fires have stretched local crews and triggered mutual-aid responses from surrounding districts.
How To Respond If You Are In The Area
If you live on any of the roads named in the current notices, this is the time to gather essentials like identification and other key documents, medications, pet supplies and a fully charged phone, and be ready to leave on short notice. Check the Chelan County Incident Map for live evacuation status. NewsRadio 560 KPQ also directs residents to the county’s Facebook page and the incident map for the quickest official updates.
