🔥 Trending Chelan Hills Fire: Evacuations and Latest Updates

The Chelan Hills Fire, which ignited shortly after midnight on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at approximately 12:05 a.m., is actively burning near the intersection of US 97 and Chelan Hills Acres Road in Orondo, Douglas County, Washington ²³. The fire started near Highway 97 at milepost 233, between Orondo and Chelan Falls ³.

Current Status and Size

As of July 5, 2026, the Chelan Hills Fire has grown significantly. Initial reports indicated it was around 5,000 acres ¹⁶. However, more recent updates suggest the fire has neared 20,000 acres ¹. Another report on July 4, 2026, stated the fire had grown to approximately 2,000 acres ⁵. This discrepancy suggests a rapidly evolving situation, with the higher figures likely reflecting the most current assessment.

Evacuation Orders and Shelters

All evacuation orders for the affected areas are currently at Level 3, which means "Go Now" ¹. An evacuation shelter has been established at Chelan Elementary ².

Challenges for Firefighters

Firefighting efforts are being significantly impacted by terrain, wind, and visibility ⁶. Despite these challenges, a substantial aerial firefighting effort is underway, with large Super Scoopers and smaller aircraft repeatedly skimming Lake Chelan to load thousands of gallons of water ⁵.

Advisory and Monitoring

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office has issued a Level 1 Fire Advisory for Navarre Coulee Road Mile Post 1, specifically for the area from 97a to mile post 4. Residents in this area are advised to monitor local radio stations and the Chelan County Emergency Management Facebook page or the Chelan County Incident Map for updates ⁴.