Several fires burning across north central part of state

By Pete O’Cain / The Wenatchee World

A flurry of fires is keeping firefighters busy in North Central Washington.

Here’s a look at fires across the region:

Cougar Creek: Estimated at more than 400 acres, the Cougar Creek Fire is burning in extreme terrain about 20 miles northwest of Entiat in the Mad River area. A Type 2 incident management team is en route to oversee operations.

The Upper Mad River Trail system and the Tommy Creek Trail are closed.

Chelan Hills: Updated, 9:05 a.m. Tuesday: The Chelan Hills Fire burning south of Beebe Bridge in Douglas County continues to show no new growth and is now estimated at 97 percent contained.

Fire officials investigated reports of structure damage and found two primary homes, a seasonal home and several outbuildings were damaged in the fire, according to a news release from Northwest Incident Management Team 11. Some corn and about 80 acres of wheat fields were damaged as well.

Crews continue to work within the fire area, falling burned and dead hazard trees that present a danger to people working nearby. These trees can fall or roll down hillsides, sparking new fires, the release says.

A temporary flight restriction over the area has been lifted. There are no road closures at this time.

25 Mile Creek: The 22-acre fire was reported about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, quickly prompting the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office to issue Level 3 evacuations to 60 to 70 homes in the area. It was contained by 10 p.m. Sunday and crews spent Monday doing mop-up, said Chief Lemon with Chelan Fire and Rescue.

One garage and an outbuilding were destroyed, and one house was damaged, Lemon said.

South Lakeshore Road from milepost 9.5 west was expected to be closed all day Monday while crews made repaired damaged infrastructure.

Cutthroat: Smokejumpers, a 20-person crew and air resources are working the 25-acre fire 13 miles west of Mazama. It’s burning in heavy timber deep in the Methow Valley Ranger District.

Several trails and areas are closed: Cutthroat Lake Trail No. 483 and trailhead, Pacific Crest Trail No. 2000 from Rainy Pass to the junction of West Fork Methow Trail No. 480, Blue Lake Trail No. 314, Rainy Lake Trail No. 310, Maple Pass Trail, Bridge Creek Trailhead (where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Highway 20), Lone Fir Campground, Washington Pass Overlook, and Road No. 400 to Cutthroat Lake Trailhead.