Chelan County still safe for campers, visitors despite wildfires in the area

Despite the wildfires, campers and others with vacations planned in Chelan County are being told it’s safe to travel to right now.

“We’re not shutting down any hotels or any recreation over here, so people are more than welcome to still come over,” said Rich Magnussen, an emergency management specialist with Chelan County Emergency Management.

He says as long as people pay attention to detours and closed roads, they should be safe.

According to PurpleAir.com, air quality is healthy in both Chelan and Manson as of Friday morning. Further northeast into Twisp, the air quality is moderate and may be an issue for sensitive groups.

There is a burn ban in effect in the county, so no debris burning is allowed.

Don’t wait for skies to turn hazy to prepare for wildfire smoke

The cause of the Red Apple Fire is still being investigated. At this point, an illegal outdoor burn is suspected of starting the fire and criminal charges are possible. Magnussen tells KIRO Radio that a local resident is suspected of burning yard debris that got out of control and started the fire Tuesday.

The fire has more than 100 homes in the area evacuated with hundreds of other residents on standby to clear out. Magnussen says flames have burned into the yards of numerous homes, but so far, no homes or other structures are known to have been lost, and there are no known injuries.

The fire now covers about 17 square miles and is approximately 10% contained.

For the latest updates from Chelan County, click here.

There are 15 large wildfires burning in 391,062 acres across the Pacific NW w/5,698 firefighters addressing the fires. Please don't add stress to this alarming situation by starting human-caused fires! https://t.co/C2sliXNvCa pic.twitter.com/KJQpipXJDh

— Forest Service NW (@ForestServiceNW) July 16, 2021