Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue declares local emergency

LAKE WENATCHEE —- The Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue (LWFR) Board of Commissioners have declared a local state of emergency in regards to the nearby Little Giant Fire.

The Little Giant Fire was started by lightning on July 15 and is burning throughout the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The fire has grown over 70,000 acres as of Aug. 5, threatening the communities of Lake Wenatchee, Entiat, and the north and south shores of Lake Chelan. Currently, 1,824 structures are threatened and Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders are in place.

Commissioners said the decision was made in consideration of changing conditions in the high terrain north of the fire district; declaring a local emergency allows LWFR Fire Chief Steve Foley and crews the flexibility needed to protect the community, request support when needed, and keep emergency work moving without unnecessary administrative delays.

In their announcement, commissioners emphasized that the declaration is not indicative of conditions throughout the district suddenly worsening. Rather, it is a precautionary measure to “act quickly, document costs carefully, and remain accountable to the public while fire conditions continue to evolve.”

The local announcement follows a statewide emergency declaration and burn ban issued by Governor Bob Ferguson. 

According to LWFR Commissioners, the governor’s declaration lowers the administrative thresholds for Chief Foley to request Washington State Fire Mobilization if fire activity threatens the district, bringing in state strike teams, heavy equipment, and aviation assets with no direct cost to local district taxpayers.

The statewide burn ban enforces a mandatory prohibition on outdoor burning, providing state-level support for local crews working to keep the upper valley safe during severe fire weather, said commissioners.

On Aug. 4, three days after his declaration, Gov. Ferguson announced that the federal government granted his request for an emergency declaration for the devastating wildfires burning in Eastern Washington. The declaration covers Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.

Commissioners said the resolution aims to expedite procurement authority to Chief Foley for immediate emergency needs without standard purchasing delays while offering fiscal oversight. According to the district officials, every dollar spent under this authority will be isolated under a dedicated accounting code (EM-2026-LITTLEGIANT). These expenses will be presented to the Board in an open public meeting for review and formal ratification, preserving eligibility for available state and federal cost recovery where applicable.

The fire district urges residents to stay up to date with information and prepare for changing conditions, even those who are not in evacuation zones.

Residents in the Fish Lake and Chiwawa River Road areas, which are under a Level 1 (Stay Alert) evacuation advisory, should review emergency plans, assemble go-bags, and keep vehicles fueled. 

Residents can sign up for real-time evacuation notifications directly from Chelan County Emergency Management, or monitor the Chelan County Emergency Incidents Map.

Updates for the Little Giant Fire can be found Little Giant Fire Information 2026 Facebook page and by visiting inciweb.wildfire.gov. Public information is also available via hotline, 509-776-6953, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., or by emailing 2026.littlegiant@firenet.gov.