Chelan Hills Fire now deadly, ‘Go Now’ evacuations underway
Jul 6, 2026, 10:06 AM | Updated: 10:07 am
The Chelan Hills Fire. (Photo courtesy of Eastside Fire and Rescue via KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of Eastside Fire and Rescue via KIRO 7)
One person was found dead after being reported missing in the area where the Chelan Hills wildfire burned this weekend, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the death on Monday morning in a news release.
According to the release, Douglas County deputies first responded to a reported brush fire near mile marker 233 on U.S. Highway 97 just after midnight on July 4. Deputies and local fire districts delivered numerous evacuation notices to residents in the affected area, and State Mobilization was requested and approved at approximately 4:30 a.m. for what is now known as the Chelan Hills Fire.
In Monday’s release, the sheriff’s office stated that deputies followed up on a report of a missing resident who lives in the affected fire area on Sunday, July 5. The deputies found a vehicle that had slid off the roadway and was subsequently consumed by the fire. Human remains were discovered inside the vehicle.
Douglas County detectives investigated before turning the remains over to the Douglas County Coroner’s Office to positively identify the deceased.
“The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with fire personnel to check the affected area for any additional residents who were unable to safely evacuate. Further updates regarding the fire’s activity will be coordinated between our office and the fire management team,” added the sheriff’s office.
KIRO 7 News sent a crew to the Chelan Hills Fire on Sunday and spoke with fire officials about the battle to contain it.
We now know that as of Sunday evening, it had burned about 9,400 acres. Original estimates were around 15,000 to 20,000 on Saturday. The Douglas County Sheriff spoke with KIRO 7 News and said now that crews have gotten a better hold of things, they have a better estimate of its size. This doesn’t mean it won’t spread. It is 0% contained as of Monday morning.
Evacuation orders remain at Level 3, the highest level, and everyone in the area is asked to get out now.
You can see a map of evacuation orders here.
According to the sheriff, at least a dozen homes and buildings have burned.
The fire is burning near the intersection of US 97 and Chelan Hills Acres Road in Orondo, according to Chelan County Fire District 5.
An evacuation shelter has been set up at Chelan Elementary School, which is at 324 East Johnson Avenue.
It’s unclear how it started, but firefighters say it’s being fueled by dry conditions.
Eastside Fire and Rescue announced on Sunday that it has deployed a team to help. Snohomish County District 5 also sent crews to help.
On Monday morning, Key Peninsula Fire reported that they had deployed a tender to assist with the Chelan Hills Fire.
“This massive fire has consumed structures and is still a threat to communities in Douglas County,” wrote the fire department.
