Chelan Hills fire believed to be human-caused; investigation and damage assessments underway
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Chelan Hills Fire continues to smolder with close to 10,000 acres charred.
The fire has left at least one person dead, destroying 19 homes, included in an initial assessment of an estimated 25 structures that have been damaged.
The fire wiped out the Hobbit Inn, the underground vacation rental located on the hills above Orondo.
Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille says the fire is being investigated as human-caused.
"We're now transitioning to assessments and recovery efforts. But then we also have to have the criminal investigation that has to run concurrently with this. And I can tell you all our investigators are working tirelessly. This is something that we will not give up on and we will find whoever is responsible for this fire and bring them to justice," said Caille.
"There’s the criminal aspect of the degree on how the fire was started. Whether it was in a reckless manner or intentional. With the loss of life, now we’re on the realm of manslaughter," the sheriff added. "Once the case investigation is completed and subjects are taken into custody, it’ll be up to the Douglas County prosecutor to make that final determination. Those would be the tertiary items that we would start at a criminal level."
A first hand account of the Chelan Hills burn from Mountain Springs Road resident Chris Urner, who shared, "I've never lived through anything like this."
"I can't believe what I'm seeing right now," said Urner, upon returning to his property after being evacuated. "Our house and our shop is standing. I don't know how our house made it. I set up like a $10 sprinkler in front of our house and it's the only place that didn't get burnt and it didn't allow our house to burn down. This is crazy."
Urner assisted in rescuing three sheep from a neighbors property, shuttling them into his trailer as he left the property.
Firefighting and investigative support was requested by local officials to the Governor and State Lands Commissioner on their visit here on Tuesday.