Help arrives on wildfire landscapes

Widespread rain fell overnight across the Little Giant Fire area, with .1”-.2” reported in Stehekin, .4” -.6” across the Little Giant Fire, and .35” in Plain as of Sunday morning.

Firefighters were aided by an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) module which continued precision firing operations in remaining interior pockets of fuel along control lines. Crews said that completing this work is important to reduce the potential for future flare-ups that could threaten established control lines.

In the Twin Lakes area, firefighters continue preparing and loading helicopter sling loads to backhaul hose, pumps and other equipment no longer needed along control lines. A helispot was established in the Entiat Valley today to provide more efficient emergency transportation should an injury occur during ongoing hazard tree removal and suppression repair work. Specialized equipment will continue arriving over the next several days to support repair operations. Crews continue repair work in the Chiwawa and Entiat River corridors and along Shady Pass and Forest Service Road 8220. Repair work will begin today in the North Shore Lake Chelan area.

The Sisi Fire remained active on Sunday, with torching forest fuels and rock rollouts during the late afternoon. The fire continues to back toward Agnes Gorge, with the northeast flank remaining the most active portion of the fire.

A forest closure order is in place for the Wenatchee River and Entiat Ranger Districts and fire restrictions on forest have been reduced. There is a closure for North Cascades National Park for portions of the Pacific Crest Trail.