Chelan Hills fire spurs evacuations

Authorities are warning people to stay clear of a fire in the Chelan Hills area, which has now burned as many as 20,000 acres, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

In a Facebook post Saturday, the office announced Level 3 evacuation orders, which mean leave immediately, as a fire jumped McNeil Canyon and started to spread. Those orders were put in place for all residences on McNeil Canyon Road and all roads connected to it.

A Red Cross shelter is set up for evacuees at Chelan Elementary School, the post added.

Early Sunday morning, the office provided an update on the fire, writing in a Facebook post: The fire continues to move north/northeast. Numerous fixed wing and rotor air resources worked the fire during daylight hours."

U.S. Highway 97 was open to traffic, according to the post, but McNeil Canyon Road remains closed to through traffic.

"Please stay clear of the area unless you live there," the postsaid. "Also, we will again have air resources dipping in the river during daylight hours, so please give them plenty of space if boating on the river.

No major injuries have been reported so far, and all evacuation orders from Saturday remain in place for now, according to the post.

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This story was originally published July 5, 2026 at 9:42 AM.