Warrant issued for Chelan man suspected in wildfire

Associated Press

CHELAN — A warrant was issued Thursday for a Chelan man sought for questioning about an illegal trash fire that may have sparked a 4,600-acre wildfire.

The Union Valley Fire, which has been blamed on an illegal burn, was 70 percent contained Thursday. Firefighters expected to have a fire trail completely encircling it by this evening, said Diane Bedell, spokeswoman for the interagency fire management team.

"Things are looking real good on it," she said.

Chelan County Sheriff Mike Brickert said John Noland, 48, is wanted on a felony warrant alleging reckless burning. He is the only person sought in the investigation.

"We have been looking for him since Saturday evening," Brickert said. "We felt he would probably be eluding or avoiding us, which is the case."

The person who started the fire could be liable for firefighting costs, which were estimated Thursday at more than $2.3 million. The illegal trash fire, which involved old carpet and other household debris, violated an outdoor burning ban the county had imposed June 1, authorities said.

The fire in the Washington Creek area, about 3 1/2miles north of Chelan, is in an area of pine forest, cheatgrass and sagebrush.

Also Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service announced it is banning campfires in much of the Okanogan and Wenatchee national forests because of increasing fire danger.

Campfires will be banned in most developed campgrounds beginning at midnight Friday, said forest supervisor Sonny O’Neal. The restriction applies to all wood and charcoal fires. Pressurized gas stoves will still be allowed.

Campfires will be allowed only in designated wilderness areas, the Mad River and North Fork areas of the Entiat Ranger District and some developed campgrounds in the Cle Elum Ranger District.

Campers found with illegal fires could be fined, O’Neal said.

The ban could reduce the number of people camping in the forests, Forest Service spokesman Elton Thomas said. The restrictions probably won’t be lifted until September, he said.

"It’s going to take a significant rain," Thomas said. "I would guess we might get that by Labor Day."

Neighbors around Coyote Ridge Road in Union Valley say the fire broke out Saturday afternoon on a lot strewn with junked vehicles, tire piles and other debris.

Around 40 evacuated families were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday.

But 28-year-old Toby Stephens no longer has a home. His wood-frame house on Meadow Lane was destroyed soon after the fire began.

Stephens, a construction worker, lived alone. He said he tried to wet down the residence until his water tank ran dry and the smoke became too thick. He grabbed his dog, two cats, a few family pictures and a backpack full of clothes and fled. Within a half-hour of leaving, he was involved in a wreck that disabled his truck.

"I’ve been through big things in the past, and you’ve got to look ahead," Stephens said Wednesday. "Everyone has traumas in their life."