07/09/2014 Mills Canyon Fire 5000 Acres and Growing

The Mills Canyon Fire outside of Entiat is heating up today and sending some smoke into the area.  Air quality at the monitoring sites seems to be fine or just lightly impacted at the moment.  There is recent news of another fire near Quincy and a couple of other small ones in Douglas and Grant Counties.  There is currently a bump in air pollution levels (to Moderate) in Moses Lake.  The satellite image below (taken yesterday - July 8) shows smoke from the Mills Canyon fire.

General info on the Mills Canyon Fire:

U.S. FOREST SERVICE FIRE UPDATE

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

215 Melody Lane

Wenatchee, WA 98801

Date: July 9, 2014 – 8:00 a.m.

Contacts: Mick Mueller, 509-664-9314

                

Mills Canyon Fire Update

               Entiat—The Mills Canyon Fire, located approximately four miles west of Entiat, is now estimated to be upwards of 5000 acres.  Firefighters from Washington Department of Natural Resources, Chelan County Fire Districts and U.S. Forest Service have worked through the night on the fire. 

An Evacuation Level 3 is in effect for Mills Canyon and Dinkleman Canyon and an Evacuation Level 2 from milepost 1.5 on the Entiat River Road to Dinkleman Canyon has been issued by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Department. Evacuation Level 1 notices have been issued for Swakane Canyon, Sherman Canyon and US 97A from Swakane to Entiat River Road.

LEVEL 1—A level 1 Evacuation means alert. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, and monitor local media outlets for information.

LEVEL 2—A Level 2 Evacuation means be ready. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready at a moment’s notice.

                    LEVEL 3—A Level 3 Evacuation means leave immediately. Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should leave immediately.

Approximately two hundred and fifty firefighters and fifteen fire engines are battling the blaze located on private, DNR and Forest Service lands. Three air tankers from Moses Lake, a heavy helicopter and three medium helicopters have been dispatched to the fire to assist ground resources now on scene at the fire.

The fire started Tuesday afternoon around 12:20 and is burning in grass, brush and timber stringers in drainages. The topography is very steep terrain.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A shelter has been set up for anyone displaced by the fire at the Entiat High School at 2650 Entiat Way in Entiat. A Washington Incident Management Team will also set up an Incident Command Post at that location this morning and take over command of the fire.