A lightning-sparked wildfire burning in the headwaters of the Twisp River Valley in Okanogan County has seen a massive expansion over the past 24 hours.
The Gilbert Fire, which is burning roughly 20 miles northwest of the town of Twisp, exploded from 250 acres in size to approximately 4,500 acres on a day that saw high winds and very low humidity in the region. Officials monitoring the fire’s activity labelled its behavior as “extreme” during the swell.
Despite the sudden, large increase in the scope of the blaze, officials with the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office say that no evacuation notices have been issued in the area, although residents have been advised of the fire's proximity and are ready for such orders at any moment.