Some residents return home as crews work to contain wildfires

DRYDEN – Residents of about 18 homes near here were allowed to return home Wednesday after they were evacuated due to a wildfire, but 24 other homes remained evacuated and dozens of other residents were on evacuation alert.

The Fischer fire, about 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee, had grown to about 850 acres by Wednesday evening, said fire information officer Stefani O’Connor. The fire started Sunday evening and was believed to have been caused by humans, although the exact cause remained under investigation.

The fire, which burned actively within its perimeter Wednesday, was about 25 percent contained, she said.

One house was evacuated and a dozen others were put on notice in the Yakima area as the Mud Lake fire seven miles northwest of Naches doubled in size, to 2,600 acres, said Jim Kohl of Yakima County Fire District No. 6.

Local firefighters left Wednesday night to assist in the Mud Lake fire, fire officials said.

Three brush trucks and a water tender from Getchell, Bryant, Gold Bar and Lake Roesiger were sent and would be driving all night to get there. Eight Snohomish County firefighters were among those who left. It was unclear how long they would be gone, said Chief Travis Hots, of Snohomish County Fire District 22.

State Highway 410 was closed for several hours Wednesday afternoon as the Mud Lake fire burned down a hill to the roadside, but the highway was later reopened, Kohl said.

“They pretty well thought they had it this morning until it blew up on them,” he said. That fire was believed to have been started by a downed power line on Monday.

“This will be a good reminder for folks to be careful because the fire danger is so high and local resources have been stretched thin because of fires in eastern Washington,” Hots said.

No structures have burned in the state’s active wildfires.

In the Fischer fire, 20 homes remained evacuated in Williams Canyon and another four in Jude Canyon while nearly 70 homes in Ollala Canyon were put on evacuation alert, O’Connor said.

Residents of 18 homes in Derby Canyon were allowed to return Wednesday.

About 400 firefighters were assigned to the fire, which was burning on private, state and national forest land.

Fire crews reported a new fire in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests west of Winthrop in far north-central Washington.

The Mebee fire, which started Tuesday, was estimated at 100 acres and was burning in heavy standing timber about a half-mile north of the North Cascades Highway, several miles west of Rainy Pass. The highway remained open.

Near Lake Chelan, firefighters continued to monitor a complex of three fires that has been burning for weeks. The Pot Peak-Sisi Ridge complex remained at 46,970 acres and was 85 percent contained.

About 450 firefighters were assigned to the three fires.

All three fires in the complex were started by lightning. The cost of fighting the three fires stands at more than $19 million.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.