wildfire – All Things Lake Chelan

Is your home defensible against wildfire… Ruby Theater program outlines the areas fire assets

by Richard Uhlhorn

The Ruby Theater held its second presentation on Fire in the Valley featuring Chelan Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Brandon Asher and Fire Commissioner Mark Donnell. This event took place on Thursday evening, May 1 to a crowd estimated at 50 interested residents.

Chief Asher described Chelan Fire and Rescue’s mission that includes responding to structural fires and wildfire incidents in a district that is 125 sq. miles. In addition, the district responds to all EMS calls, automobile accidents including victim extraction, water rescue on the lake, Regional rope rescues and Hazmat situations.

**Chief Brandon Asher and Fire Commissioner Mark Donnell presented fire information at the Ruby Theater on May 1.**

The district has just hired two new career firefighters to fill out its needs for all situations. It also carries up to 35 volunteers and is always looking to attract more. The largest percentage of volunteers are over the age of 60. While there are a number of younger volunteers Asher said, “It’s hard to attract younger men and women who have jobs and are unable to respond to calls.”

The district responds to more wildfire than it does structural incidents, but its firefighters are trained in both types of firefighting techniques.

Wildfire is the most worrisome event that visits the valley each year. It is rare that the Lake Chelan Valley escapes having a wildfire during the fire season with the exception of small brush fires that are contained quickly.

Asher described the downtown fire siren as a method of letting people know that a second alarm fire or incident is ongoing. “When it goes off, step outside and look around,” said Asher. “We also try to inform the public through KOZI Radio and social media.”

Fire Commissioner Mark Donnell moved to the Valley in 2015 as a retired westside paramedic and firefighter. He quickly signed up as a volunteer and eventually ascended to the position of Fire Chief before retiring.

Donnell presented his story as a Union Valley resident. He shared photos of his Union Valley home prior to preparing it for a wildfire incident to a photo of the work he has accomplished to save it in a wildfire event.

**A fire plane dumps water on a section of wildfire in Union Valley in 2022.**

In September, 2022, a wildfire started adjacent to the Union Valley road just below his residence. This fire was human caused, probably by a spark from a trailer hitch safety chain dragging on the ground.

Chelan Fire and Rescue’s initial attach crew responded quickly which helped with control, but command was handed over to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). At the time, Asher reported that a unified command was set up quickly. “We had good response on this fire.”

Donnell along with many other residents living in this fire prone area have taken advantage of a program offered by the DNR to make their property defensible.

It wasn’t always like that. Prior to any real defensible space being created in Union Valley a resident in summer of 2001 started a trash burn on his property which got away and ended up burning 46,000 acres on Union Valley.

**A fire investigator inspects damage left by the 46,000 acre 2001 human cause fire.**

The DNR and residents began working on defensible space and are still at it.

The most recent and devasting fire in the Valley began in 2015, burning 56,000 acres of land before it was contained. This wildfire began as a lightning strike on Chelan Butte. Eventually an afternoon wind picked it up and it roared through the south end of Chelan causing millions in damage to homes and fruit warehouses.

Wildfire has a long history in the Lake Chelan Valley. Most of the lakeshore has been engulfed over the years and many thousands of acres have been consumed.

Last year’s Pioneer Fire was just the latest in a series of large wildfires at a cost of millions to the taxpayer. The Pioneer Fire has been reported to have cost $100 million plus to contain.

The August 1970 lightning fire in the Entiat and Chelan Mountains burned a total of 122,000 acres. This fire can be seen in a documentary narrated by Loren Green, as detailed by HistoryLink.org and YouTube. Chelan residents had to evacuate and were sheltered in an evacuation center, but returned the next day to scenes of devastation.

In 1994, the Tyee Complex, another lightning fire that began in the Entiat drainage burned over 135,000 acres and forced evacuations of resident on the south side of Chelan.

As more and more people move to the area and build homes in the wildland/urban interface, constructing defensible space is an important part of building here. The following link will help you negotiate the ins and outs of working with the DNR.

Defensible Space – Prepare Your Home | WA – DNR

Fire agencies worried about fire spread towards Manson

by Richard Uhlhorn

At the last update on July 7, the Pioneer Fire has grown to almost 10,000 acres and Level 3 evacuations have been extended to Safety Harbor. UPDATE: 4 p.m., 7.8.24 – The Incident Command Team is taking over Manson’s Singleton Park as its next fire encampment.

Chelan Fire and Rescue Commissioner Russ Jones has been driving the Fire & Rescue boat in support of personnel working the fire. In a telephone conversation, Jones stated that a back burn operation went well until the down lake wind came up at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. “It was one hell of a night,” stated Jones who was evacuating fire fighters from the Prince Creek and Canoe Creek locations. “You can’t really see the shoreline at night and then there is all the wood,” he added.

**The Pioneer Fire downsloped to the lake at Prince Creek. Photo by Stephanie Prehim – Chelan Fire and Rescue.**

Jones said he was really happy when the rescue evacuation operation was over at 1 a.m. “I’m really impressed with the firefighters,” Jones said. “They are dealing with heat, dust and smoke, but are really courteous and nice.”

**Firefighters watch the Pioneer Fire burn along the shores of Lake Chelan after being evacuated by Chelan Fire & Rescue personnel. Photo by Stephanie Prehim**

The lower valley should prepare itself for the next week of extreme heat. Jones said that this coming Wednesday afternoon there will be another down lake wind coming out of the west reaching up to 20 mph gusts.

The high temperatures and relatively low humidity will continue to be a contributing factor to increased fire behavior. Fire fighting crews continue to work on protecting structures, both private and public.

Crews continue to bolster the old 2001 Deer Pt. fire breaks all the way to the lake.

Manson Fire Chief Arnold Baker said the down lake wind the other night really screwed things up and he’s not optimistic about the next week. “As I said at the Manson Community meeting, my job is to plan for the worstcase scenario. I still think that’s where we are headed.”

“If the fire jumps the Coyote Ridge breaks it will jump all the others,” stated Baker. He went on to say the Incident Team is really supporting the efforts to protect Manson. “The are doing real legitimate work. We are integrated into the team efforts,” added Baker. “We are preparing to protect Manson.”

District 5 and District 7 are working together. “Brandon and I just finished a meeting with the team here at District 7.”

Smoke has become a regular occurrence in the Lake Chelan Valley, which could help keep daily temperatures a little lower, but not by much.

It is predicted that excessive temperatures will drive fire behavior and continue to grow the Pioneer Fire until the snow falls in November. The fire is currently burning in the old Rex Creek Fire boundary which has a lot of old deadfall, grasses, bushes and other flammable material. The Rex Creek Fire burned over 60,000 acres back in 2001.

Further south of the Rex Creek Fire boundary there is the remains of the Deer Point Fire which took place in 2002 and actually threatened the northern reaches of Manson.

Work is being undertaken to strengthen and open up the old fire breaks on the Grade Creek Road north and along Coyote Ridge to the lake.

Currently, there are 604 personnel on this fire with only 14% containment. Aerial water drops are also continuing non-stop during the daylight hours.

All Things Lake Chelan will continue to stay on top of this emerging story and keep its followers updated as more information comes in.

State representatives to attend fire commission to discuss insurance issues

by Richard Uhlhorn

State Representative’s Michale Steele and Keith Goehner will be attending the Chelan Fire Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 19 beginning at 3 p.m. at the Chelan Fire Hall.

They will be discussing the next steps in the Homeowner’s Insurance Issue.

In a conversation with Commissioner Russ Jones on Thursday, Jone’s said most of the attendees of the meeting held last Tuesday had either had their home insurance cancelled and/or the price increased substantially. “It seems the insurers have been cancelling by Zip Code,” said Jones.

What Jones and homeowners would like to see changed in the Washington State Insurance Codes is a requirement for insurers to individually assess a homeowner’s risk to wildfire before raising fees and/or cancelling a homeowner’s policy outright.

Insurance companies had to pay out millions of dollars in the aftermath of the 2014 Carleton Wildfire risk is on their risk assessment agenda.

Wildfire risk is also on the public’s agenda and major impetus is being placed by Fire agencies to make sure homeowner’s are prepared and Fire Safe.

PIONEER FIRE UPDATE – 6.14.24
The Pioneer Fire has grown to 1,756 acres as of today.

Firefighter access difficulties in the steep, rugged terrain on the north shore of Lake Chelan, 31 miles north of Chelan continue to challenge the 186 firefighting personnel battling the blaze.

Firefighters are maintaining handlines and sprinkler systems to protect both private and public structures from Rex Creek to Pioneer Creek. Six aircraft are assigned to support the firefighting efforts.

Wind and a cold front with low humidity has been a major contributor to the fire’s growth.

The Incident Commander has stated that this fire will be an on-going battle into the distant future.

It is burning well within the confines of the old July, 2001 Rex Creek fire that consumed 60,000 acres and left plenty of dry logs and fuel to reburn.

Some are now saying it will burn until the first snow in November.

Chelan County Emergency Management has expanded its evacuation levels as follows:

Level 3 – Rex Creek to just north of Moore Point.
Level 2 – To include Flick Creek

Backpackers still wishing to hike the Lakeshore Trail can access the trail at Moore Point.

More information as it the fire situation becomes available.

Morse issues warning about fire danger

by Richard Uhlhorn

Chelan resident addresses council about fire danger:
Last night’s City Council meeting got off to a bang when Stan Morse rolled up to the microphone to speak during the Citizen Comment section.

**Chelan resident Stan Morse addressed Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting about the dangers of wildfire in 2024.**

Morse, a lifelong Chelan resident, has been before the council with his wildfire message a number of times and last night’s rant took on a more serious slant.

“My home insurance was cancelled,” he said. The reason stated was the danger of wildfire raging through the community. He said he was able to replace his home insurance from $1,200 to $2,500 and added that he was sure other homeowners were facing the same situation.

Morse brought up the devastating 2015 Chelan Complex that almost erased southeast Chelan from the community and took down warehouses at Chelan Fruit causing millions of dollars in damage. “That fire is going to come back and back again,” he stated.

**A fire plane attacks the 2015 Chelan Butte fire before it blows up.**

His concern is the brush, woody debri and other burnable materials that clog the neighborhoods and could be the difference between an out of control wildfire or one that is containable.

**In September, 1991, a man made wildfire on Chelan Butte burned most of the Butte.**

As an example of the dangers, Morse brought up the Paradise Camp that killed 85 and burned 18,000 homes and the Medical Lake fire which destroyed homes and killed two.

**In 2014, the Carlton Complex Fire burned 256,108 acres and destroyed 353 homes.**

He blamed the City for not helping cleanup burnable material within its jurisdiction. “The City has said it’s the Fire Department’s responsibility. It is not the Fire Department’s responsibility.”

That claim has been refuted by a city mayor who states it is up to the fire department to clean up burnable debris.

He added, “It’s different from when I was a kid,” said Morse. “Whether it’s climate change or something else, it is the reality we live with.”

Editor’s note:
Most of us remember the 2015 fire. Many new people have bought and moved to the Chelan area since that time without any context of how dangerous our wildfire situation can be. All it would take is a large wind event and fire to sweep through the area to wipe out many homes from Manson to Chelan and on the south shore just like the 2015 fires did.

The reality of Washington’s fire danger is this:

As of 2019, it was estimated that 951,000 homes sit near forests threatened by wildfire that includes a swath from Spokane southwest to the Columbia River and running north past Wenatchee into the Methow Valley. In all, 25 communities are exposed.

Since 2019, the number of threatened homes has grown as people from other areas move into eastern Washington to escape the overcrowded urban areas.

**A large warehouse destroyed in the 2014 Carlton Complex**.

Free Yard Waste Disposal:
On April 20^th (Earth Day,) and April 27, residents can dispose of vegetation to help reduce wildfire risk and decrease impacts to air quality from outdoor burning.

The Chelan Transfer Station will accept trees and limbs less than 8 feet long and 12 inches wide. Not accepted are rocks, plastic, bags, grass clippings, sod, root wads, and weeds.

This is an opportunity for home owners and the City to help reduce the risk.

This issue has been a long running one with Stan Morse and he should be thanked for keeping it in front of the City and Community.

Earth Day:
This year’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, will focus on wildfire dangers. Chelan Fire and Rescue, the Forest Service, Cascadia Conservation District along with students from Chelan High School’s Biology Class taught by April Slagle will be on hand to answer questions, handout information and warn people the need to reduce fire danger from around their homes.

Scott Beaton, one of the driving forces behind Chelan’s first Earth Day celebrations, has been the individual who has orchestrated this year’s Wildfire information.

One of the ideas behind bringing in the biology class is an opportunity to map the areas around the Valley that could contribute to a massive wildfire. “There are all kinds of ravines in the valley full of fuels that have never burned,” said Beaton. “We would like to map some of those areas.”

In addition, Beaton said the Forest Service came up with really good questions of which one was how Chelan residents view fire danger versus the agency. Beaton stated the 70% of homeowners surveyed felt they had done a good job of protecting their homes while only 28% of fire personnel agree.

This coming fire season is predicted to be one of the driest seasons in years and everyone is encouraged to be very careful.