Saturday, July 19, 2025

Apple Acres fire triggers evacuation warnings, highway closure

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CHELAN – A fast-moving brush fire that started around 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, July 2, south of Wells Dam near Antoine Creek Road and Apple Acres Road has grown to more than 2,000 acres at this writing prompting the Chelan County Emergency Management to issue a Level 2 (Be Set) fire evacuation and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to restrict traffic flow of a stretch of Highway 97.

Highway 97 traffic on Thursday morning, July 3, is reduced to alternating single lane with pilot car guidance between five mileposts at Wells Dam. Radio traffic and updating online posts report a third alarm callout. Fire suppression aircraft have also reportedly responded to the area.

Pateros vehicle mishap

A tractor-trailer left the northbound side of Highway 97 near Starr Road south of Pateros at about 4:45 p.m. and jackknifed in a ditch. The accident appears to be unrelated to the fire traffic. Reports from the scene indicate the driver self-extricated the cab of the truck and was not injured.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media

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