Red Apple Fire Over 12,000 Acres But Nearing Full Containment

Update: 4:30 pm 7/20

The Red Apple Fire is now about 90% contained, with burnout operations needing to cool down before a new containment number can be assessed.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, acreage remains unchanged at 12,228 acres.

The Type 1 Incident Management Team will hand control of the fire back to local resources at 6:00 pm Tuesday.

The only evacuation notice still in place is the unpaved portion of Burch Mountain Road, which is at a Level 2, or GET SET, evacuation order.

Update: 12:12 pm 7/19

Crews made good progress on the Red Apple Fire overnight and now the blaze burning above Wenatchee is holding steady at 12,228 acres.

Department of Natural Resources PIO Ryan Rodruck said the fire is at 83% containment, with just a northern portion of the brush fire still technically uncontained.

"I don't have an estimated time on full containment right now, but we'll be working throughout the next 48-72 hours to get those lines fully secured."

Crews, engines and bulldozers will be doing tactical patrolling throughout the day Monday as well as engaging in mop-up activities.

No primary residences have been lost and five outbuildings have been destroyed.

All evacuation levels have been removed except for the unpaved portion of Burch Mountain Road, which has been reduced from a Level 3 evacuation notice to a Level 2.

Update: 7:34 pm 7/18

The Red Apple Fire, burning north of Wenatchee, is 11,952 acres and is 78% contained as of last update Sunday evening.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources Spokesman Joe Smillie says there was minimal fire behavior Sunday. Full containment is estimated by midnight Monday morning.

Chelan County Emergency Management has not announced any changes to evacuation levels or road closures.

Update: 7:50 pm 7/17

The Red Apple Fire is 51% contained and has burned 11,111 acres according to information provided by Chelan County Emergency Management and Inciweb.

The following changes were announced Saturday evening:

• Warner Canyon was moved from a Level 3 to a Level 2 (GET SET) evacuation stage
• Nahahum Canyon was moved to a Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation stage

Crews are attempting to keep the fire out of Swakane Canyon. Erratic winds have made things more difficult for firefighters. Roughly 300 personnel are working the Red Apple Fire.

An estimated containment date of Monday has been announced. The fire began July 13th.

California Interagency Incident Team 1 took over command of the fire at 6:00 pm Friday night.

The cause is still under investigation.

Original Post:

The Red Apple Fire is holding steady at 11,000 acres as it continues to burn north of Wenatchee.

Department of Natural Resources PIO Ryan Rodruck said crews have been making progress securing the east and west flanks. The fire is most active on its northern end, where firefighters have been building containment lines to keep the blaze out of Swakane Canyon.

The fire is listed as 10% contained, although Rodruck added that the next containment number, expected Friday evening, should be much more positive.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury, was evaluated by medical personnel, and pulled off the line for light duty. No primary residences have been lost. Some outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, including NewsRadio 560 KPQ's sister station Talk 106.7's transmitter. Talk 106.7 is back on the air after a temporary transmitter was installed.

The only Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation notices still in effect are for the unpaved portion of Burch Mountain Road as well as residences in Warner Canyon.

Swakane Canyon and Nahahum Canyon are still at Level 2 (GET SET).

Locations under a Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation notice include:

• The east side of Burch Mountain Road to include Ohme Garden Road
• 97A from Ohme Garden Road to milepost 202 (Bob's Apple Barrel)
• Everything north of American Fruit Road and north of East Street from U.S. 2 to Burch Mountain.

Evacuation orders have been removed from all areas south of American Fruit Road and East Street from Burch Mountain to US 2.

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office updated the public Friday on its investigation into the origins of the Red Apple Fire.

According to a press release, deputies executed a search warrant Wednesday at a Monitor residence that was believed to be the start of the fire. It was determined during the investigation that the blaze did not originate at the location and investigators were lead to an adjacent property about 50 feet from the residence.

Little more information has been provided, but investigators have determined that the fire was human caused, although how it actually started is unknown.