Boat erupts into flames, sinks in Lake Chelan

Boat catches fire on Lake Chelan, Aug. 31.

A boat caught fire off of Lake Chelan State Park Sunday night. I

Chelan Fire and Rescue says it appears all occupants safely got off the boat before it became fully involved in flames.

"We received a call for a water rescue with a boat involved and individuals in the water," said Chelan Fire Capt. Taylor Rains. "We responded in Boat 71. Boat 72 that we recently placed in Manson had a great response and got there very quickly."

"We arrived to a fully involved boat. It was very hot," added Rains, recollecting what it was like from the water. "When we were able to, Boat 72 hooked up to it and towed it into the nearest boat launch there at the (Lake Chelan) State Park where it burned down and eventually sank. Sounds like some bystanders help assist people out of the water."

Shortly thereafter, firefighters were reportedly called out to several lightening caused fires on the plateau.  

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Dry lightening that passed over the area Sunday night and into Monday sparked numerous new fires.

A fire northeast of Lake Wenatchee. Another east of Plain. A fire estimated at 25 acres charred land north of Leavenworth. A fire burned southwest of Cashmere. The Allen Creek Fire on Blewett Pass  is at 10 acres. Two fires burning southwest and due south of Ellensburg are each at over 80 acres in size.

A new wildland fire in Northeastern Washington near the Canadian border is estimated at 1,100 acres, according to Northeast Washington Fire Information.

The fire was started by lightning strikes from storms that passed through Ferry and Stevens counties.

The Crown Creek fire is located near the Blackhawk Mountain and Johnson Grade fires, which are also burning in the area.

Another fire has scorched roughly 1,200 acres, about two square miles, in the Three Rivers Ranger district north of Northport near Kettle Falls. Additionally, a small 22 acre fire blacked land on the Colville Indian Reservation.

Advisories are to stay off trails and away from recreation sites. Firefighting resources are committed to all active fires in North Central Washington.

Northeast Washington lightening-caused rangeland fire, Aug. 31.