Nearly 1,100 firefighters are tackling the Cougar Creek wildfire which has grown to more than 26,000 acres with only 5 percent containment. The blaze is now spawning additional spot fires.
Fire spokesman Nick Mickel says the challenge comes when a spot fire pops up while trying to maintain their containment line.
“We have to then mobilize our resources from that fire, free up what we can safely, and not lose sight of protecting structures of the main part of the fire and then chase those spots,” Mickel said. “We are hoping to keep the fire on the west side of Entiat Valley, but unfortunately yesterday afternoon the wind picked up again and pushed us into a defensive mode for structure protection,” he said.
Level 3 evacuations have been put in place for the area between Ardenvoir and Mad River Road, as well as Entiat River Road — about 30 miles from Chelan and Wenatchee.