Red Apple Fire Threatening 234 Homes, Lights Up Wenatchee Valley Overnight

As of Wednesday morning, 234 homes in the Monitor and Sunnyslope area are threatened by a fire that could be widely viewed across the Wenatchee Valley overnight.

CWICC Dispatch Manager Brant Stanger says resources are pouring in from across the state.

"We have nine engines, two dozers, and we're flying heavy air tankers and two helicopters, and some smaller air tankers called fire buses," said Stanger. "We have an air attack on it, as well as all the other county resources that have responded."

Level 3 Evacuate Now alerts are in place for all businesses and residents on or above American Fruit Road all the way to School Street in Sunnyslope.

Level 3 alerts are also in place both sides of Burch Mountain Road.

What's now known as the Red Apple Fire is at a thousand acres and growing. It started as a three-alarm fire just before 7 pm last night.

State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the fire, which is burning in grass and sage.  Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at the request of Fire Chief Brian Brett, Chelan County Fire District 1, and Fire Chief Phil Mosher, Chelan County Fire District 6.

Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered 3 strike teams. 

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray will remain activated to Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Red Apple Fire.  State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are en route to the scene to coordinate the dispatch of resources.