All evacuations downgraded for 250 acre Balsam Root Fire near Wenatchee

CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. --

UPDATE, July 5 at 12:30 p.m.

The Chelan County Fire District reports the Balsam Root Fire is now 30% contained and remains an estimated 250 acres.

Evacuation orders for the area remain at Level 1 meaning be aware.

The district says no structures have been lost and 200 have been protected.

UPDATE, July 5, 2024 11:32 a.m.

Chelan County Emergency Management says all evacuation levels are being downgraded to a Level 1 fire advisory for the Balsam Root Fire in Wenatchee.

According to Washington State DNR Wildfire, the fire was last estimated to be around 250 acres.

The Fire Marshal's office says the fire started around 3 a.m. Friday morning and is burning grass, brush and sage. State firefighting resources were requested at 5:30 a.m. to help battle the fire.

Recreational boats are asked to give distance to firefighting aircrafts using nearby waterways for firefighting operations.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Chelan County Emergency Management says a Red Flag Warning is in effect through Friday night.

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ORIGINAL POST, July 5, 2024 10:39 a.m.

A wildfire in Chelan County is forcing evacuations near Wenatchee.

According to the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office, the Balsam Root Fire is estimated around 85 acres and growing.

It poses a significant danger to people near Horse Lake Road and they should leave now.

Other impacted areas include Westwick Rd., Kookaburro Run, Westview Drive, Westmoreland Drive, and Maple Street west of the Canal.

Chelan County Emergency Management says a Level 1 fire advisory has been issued for No. 1 Canyon Road in Wenatchee, beginning at Canyon Creek Drive. The advisory area includes Day Drive, Lester Road, Sage Hills Drive, Austin Court, Deer Haven Lane, and Doe Meadow Lane.

A fire advisory has also been issued for Sleepy Hollow, Sleepy Hollow Heights, Scenic View, Eastview, and Edgewood.

The Maiden Lane area of the Broadview development is also under fire advisory. Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations are in place for the area around Maiden Lane.

A Red Cross Shelter has been set up at Wenatchee Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 508 N Western Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

The Fire Marshal's office says the fire started around 3 a.m. Friday morning and is burning grass, brush and sage. Structures and homes are threatened by the fire.

State firefighting resources were requested at 5:30 a.m. to help battle the fire.

A full evacuation map with the latest info as of Friday, July 5 at 10:39 a.m. is below:

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

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