Wildfire burns 4,000 acres near Chelan
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CHELAN, Wash. - A wildfire that broke out Sunday south of Pateros near Lake Chelan has grown to an estimated 4,000 acres - about six square miles.
A spokesman for fire managers, Jeff Sevigney in Brewster, also says the fire threatens about 30 homes, mostly in the community of Alta Lake. Residents have been advised of the danger. Campers at Alta Lake State Park also have been told they may need to evacuate.
Residents say wildfires are just a part of summer life in Eastern Washington.
"in this part of the state fire is something we think about all the time, especially a summer like this summer, where we've had way more lightning than other summers," said Linda Heaton of Pateros.
Gray smoke could be seen from about 25 miles away as helicopters scooped water from a nearby river to drop on the flames that are burning grass and light timber. Firefighters were not only battling the blaze and rough terrain, but temperatures in the 90s.
"It's a slow process. This is steep terrain," Sevigney said. "It's difficult for the fire crews and they're working hard to get that completed."
Traffic along Highway 97 has also been affected by the fire -- down to one lane at times while emergency teams build fire lines just alongside the road.
The fire at this point remains uncontained. The state has called in a larger team to take over management at an operations center and about 210 firefighters are at the scene.
A spokesman for fire managers, Jeff Sevigney in Brewster, also says the fire threatens about 30 homes, mostly in the community of Alta Lake. Residents have been advised of the danger. Campers at Alta Lake State Park also have been told they may need to evacuate.
Residents say wildfires are just a part of summer life in Eastern Washington.
"in this part of the state fire is something we think about all the time, especially a summer like this summer, where we've had way more lightning than other summers," said Linda Heaton of Pateros.
Gray smoke could be seen from about 25 miles away as helicopters scooped water from a nearby river to drop on the flames that are burning grass and light timber. Firefighters were not only battling the blaze and rough terrain, but temperatures in the 90s.
"It's a slow process. This is steep terrain," Sevigney said. "It's difficult for the fire crews and they're working hard to get that completed."
Traffic along Highway 97 has also been affected by the fire -- down to one lane at times while emergency teams build fire lines just alongside the road.
The fire at this point remains uncontained. The state has called in a larger team to take over management at an operations center and about 210 firefighters are at the scene.
pretty dramatic! i live in paterodise, grown up here, have family here and at alta lake and on the fire department.......were fine.
Any body know if Whistlin Pine is in danger?
 @jnet was there about an hour ago...fire is right by it. dont know how close they will let it get.
It's the same old story when these fires are burning... posters on here will say "let her burn" until it builds up a major head and rolls into a town, destroying scores of homes... then those same posters will be saying "why didn't they do something?!!" Beware the people who know how to do everything. They usually can't do anything.Â
 @TruthinAdverts I'll bet my bottom dollar against yours that if we each had a 100 acre forest that mine would be more healthy than ours. You see I would let mine burn naturally and let Mother Nature take care of herself while you would interfere. My forest would have less severe fires and also be more diverse. My forest would be alive whilst yours would always be on the verge of dying out completely. I'll take that bet and win.
ours=yours.
 @TruthinAdverts So only your upinion counts. I see how you are. You should have your own blog then. Now scram.
 @Granny_MAC Granny... you're not quite as innovative as you'd like to believe. WFU (wildland fire use) fires have been around for quite some time now. It means that a nature started fire (lightning) is allowed to burn provided it is not posing significant threat to surrounding communities. If however, it's posing a threat, the fire is fought. I'm sure you're a person with good intentions, and I'm certain that behind that computer screen your certain you can just solve all the problems of the world single handed. Meanwhile, firefighters are actually out there risking themselves to save homes and property. They understand when to allow a fire to burn, and when it needs to be controlled. You should probably sit down before you hurt yourself and stick to the mayors race in Pacific where you live.Â
My sister & brother in law have a house on Alta Lake, they say they are ready to evacuate the area at any time, only one way in and out of there, hope everyone stays safe.
 @concerned Hopefully you can urge them to leave before it's a close call. I've known people who literally barely got out of these situations. Hopefully their house will make it through this. As a homeowner I find this terrifying. It's also tragic for wildlife.
It's amazing how many people here know what to do with this fire. Â Hopefully the firefighters on the ground and in the air get his one under control soon...I'm sure they know what they are doing, but if they need assistance I'm sure they will come to this comment section for advice.
Thats a great looking cloud created by the fire. I hope they don't waste any more money putting it out. God will put it out if he wants it to rain. Otherwise the fire will run out of fuel when it hits the road or the dirt fields. Putting that fire out is like pouring water on your stovetop fire.
@Granny_MAC Unfortunately this fire is coming over the mountain towards Alta Lake and the families that live there full time, it will burn many houses before it gets to a road. The ranch at the end of that canyon fortunately was able to move all of their livestock out before the fire hit them.
 @concerned And yet the homes in nearly all fires in the forest or the edge of the forest like at Alta Lake that are fireproofed still stand intact after a fire sweeps thru. Unfortunately folks who don't prepare to live on the edge of a forest will lose their homes. I'm betting most folks will be okay and have prepared the areas around their home and moved their animals already. If you've evr been east you'll see houses on the beach on stilts still standing for decades while the other homes get rebuilt constantly. Those folks know where they live.
@Granny_MAC If you owned any property over there you would realize how important it is to put this fire out. Obviously, you are not a home owner Maybe a fire outside your back door would change your mind. There are alot of horses and wildlife being destroyed
 @Beverly Karschney I do have a home and its not in a fire zone. If it was I'd fireproof it by building it out of mudbrick and have ceramic iles for the roof. I'd cear any brush away from the house and have all my horses moved down towards the lake or I'd haul them out my self in trailers to te west side during August. The wildlife will usually run from a wildfire. The regrowth is healthy if you want a good forest for critters otherwise they end up starving to death especially bear cubs who need berries and such from open fields. Â
 @TruthinAdverts What Granny is trying to say is, citizens should be independent, self-reliant  and prepare for these predictable events. FWIW, some of us on this side appreciate how E WA handles weather realated conditions. Extreme heat all summer, and extreme cold in Winter. Sanding, salting and plowing in Winter is automatic over there. On this side it is a political battle, or officials are suspiciously caught off guard.  The great thing about E WA is the people are still real and on the same page. Best wishes. Â
I mean to say most of the folks at Alta Lake have fireproffed their homes and moved any livestock or animals. I can picture you running around the woods yelling the sky is falling.
 @TruthinAdverts Ever hear fo apples and oranges. If you choose to put yourself in the path of a fire then you might get burned. You have to protect yourself and your home before the fire actually comes thru because it will. What on God's green earth that has to do with cancer or vaccinations is beyond me. If you are sick you need to be treated and if there is a strong chance of getting ill it might be pudent to get a vaccination. Its up tot he individual. You on the other hand might need a shot of something if we can ever figur out whats wrong with you.
 @TruthinAdverts You are too funnyfor your britches. I would strogly suggest anyone who wants to live in the forest or the edge of the forest like Alta Lake invest in some home fireproofing because it actually works. Maybe there are some people like you who need to rely on others such as the fire department to solve all of your self made problems. I'm sure there are plenty of folks there that do that now. You I'm guessing are one of the unprepeared folks. I don't know where you're coming from with the 'Irish' statement. Or the shaking there heads at me. Your quite the silly one and I hope you get better soon. like I've said before your forest would die a cruel and long suffering death as mine would flurish. Have a day. Â
 @TruthinAdverts I mean, given your stated mentality, we wouldn't be trying to cure cancer... there'd be no vaccinations against polio or small pox, because... you know... "God will stop it when he wants it to stop". Holy crud lady!
 @Granny_MAC Nope, my name is not Alec... and listen... fires on the "prairie" aren't even remotely comparable to fires in locations like the eastern slopes of the Cascades. I always enjoy a little bit of South Dakota (or name your prairie state here) whimsy and heaven knows I love the Irish, but implementation of your blanket policy statements aren't simply foolhardy... but dangerous and would end up getting a LOT of people killed and a great many homes destroyed.  You may have a vision of simply allowing these fires to burn until "God sees fit to put 'em out", but when there are assets at risk... such as homes and people... they are going to fight them... no matter what you and that marvelous computer of yours say. Have you noticed a lot of people shake their heads at your statements? How the rest of society sort of goes... "um... ok Granny... well, we aren't going to do that today". There's a reason, and it's not because you're ahead of your time.Â
 @TruthinAdverts Is your name Alec?
 @Granny_MAC oh boy
 @Beverly Karschney Darn tootin.I was born on the prarie. You just gots to let the fires burn. Its been happening since the beginning of time. My Father was born in 1888 in County Cork. Came here and got to know the land. He always said let it burn the way God intended it to.
@Granny_MAC whatever glad you got it all figured out
 @Granny_MAC Guess you never seen a fire jump the road and since you don't live over here you don't know what the terrain looks like.Â
 @Schmitt86  You guessed wrong. You don't know where I live. And I do know the terrain as I used to own property north of Wenatchee. 80 acres in all overlooking the river. Like anyone from the eastern Washington will tell you to let it burn. Most homes are protected by the homeowner. If not then its their fault. many a fire will not jump the road. It depends on the wind and which way its blowing. I used to look forward to fire season.
I thought it was 8500 acres.
You did read that it is 4,000 acers right? That field is not even close to that size. It must be put out or it could spread much more widely.
Just leave it alone.  It will stop burning when it reaches that plowed field.
@Sid Vishess Yea, meanwhile it will destroy horses, wildlife and homes that people have worked so hard all there life, get a clue
 @Beverly Karschney  @Sid Oh... and welcome to KOMO!
 @Cindertang Oh no! A fan! After all these years! I would like to thank the Academy! Mum and Dad, of course. And..ohmigod... it's the PRESIDENT on the line!
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"Sid? It's President Obama. I would like to congratulate you on your one and only fan, while at the same time remind you that... you didn't write that. Someone else built the internet and KOMO provided you the forum. Now quit dissing me in every thread!"
Â
I will do my best to reward your faith in me, Cindertang, Whether it is a withering put-down of progressive sensibilities, a wayyy over the top rant against... stuff... or just being the cheerful cynic that I am, I will aim to entertain the masses. Thank you and goodnight.
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 @Sid Vishess Hey Sid if you wrote professionally, I would read every dam thing you write. Start a blog, you in my opinion are one intelligent person. And as far as KOMO gos . It blows just like the wind.
 @Beverly Karschney Homes and the like should be protected  and the homeowners should do their part to protect their (insured?) homes by clearing the land in a defensible perimeter. It is a demonstrable fact that by allowing small fires to clear the underbrush and rejuvenate the ecosystem, that FUTURE fires will be less intense and damaging..Â
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Get a clue...Bev.
 @SusieQ My last home... yes.  Godawful floor plan. Outdated fixtures. Needed new windows. The roof was going. Yes, just one accidental Bottle Rocket on the Fourth would have done 'er. Alas, it was not to be.
 @SusieQ Susie, though I appreciate your point... be kind about the "west coasters"... There's west coast firefighters protecting those homes right now.Â
 @Sid Vishess Spoken like a true West coaster. You don't even know what's near this fire, or which the direction the wind is blowing, how hard it's blowing, and here you are suggesting it just be left alone. I'm in the Methow valley, 25 miles to the north, and our homes and offices were filled with smoke today. Between that area and us lays the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of people, countless animals, land, pristine forest. You don't even know what direction the wind is blowing from where you're sitting. Maybe you'd like for your (insured) home to burn to the ground?
But that makes too much sense.