The Little Giant Fire burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has burned 132,978 acres and was 10% contained as of Sunday morning, fire officials confirmed.
The wildfire was started by lightning on July 15.
Fire Information
The Little Giant Fire became “highly active” last weekend, destroying 26 structures. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the 26 structures included 2 primary residences, 3 cabins, and 21 outbuildings.
The sheriff’s office said that due to dangerous conditions caused by the fire, the area will remain restricted until it is safe for the public to reenter.
Here’s an update from Sunday, August 16:
“Earlier in the week, gusty winds from a passing thunderstorm increased fire activity along the eastern side of the Chiwawa River, requiring firefighters to shift tactics to safely secure this section of the fire. Taking advantage of favorable weather conditions yesterday, firefighters conducted firing operations southward along Chiwawa River Road using an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) with a plastic sphere dispenser (PSD) and hand ignitions. Crews are mopping up behind these firing operations to increase the depth of the road as a fireline and ensure it remains effective at halting the spread of the approaching wildfire. From Twin Lakes to Chiwawa River Road along Big Meadow Road, firefighters continue to hold the fire and patrol for hotspots while deepening mop-up. Heavy equipment is also making progress on secondary fireline along Pole Ridge.
In the Entiat River drainage, firefighters continue to hold Tyee Ridge Road to Tyee Lookout and the dozer line parallel to Tyee Creek. Crews are securing the line using hoselays for water to cool the fire’s edge, mopping up, and reinforcing the fireline. From Entiat River Road to Gene Creek, firefighters are directly engaging the fire’s edge using handline, hoselays, and helicopter water drops. Crews have developed a plan to construct fireline from Gene Creek to Baldy Mountain and will begin that work today. Masticators continue clearing brush along Potato Creek, while firefighters extend handline up McKenzie Ridge to establish secondary fireline. Additional control construction is underway on Johnson Creek, Forest Mountain, and Slide Ridge.
Near Lake Chelan, dozers are reinforcing control lines in the Grouse Mountain area to connect with existing road systems. A hotshot crew is constructing fireline southward from Junior Point along Devil’s Backbone. A UAS equipped with infrared thermal imaging surveyed the spot fire on the northeast shore of Lake Chelan and detected several lingering interior heat signatures. North of the fire, boats and helicopters delivered supplies to support ongoing structure protection preparations in Domke Lake and Lucerne.
Structure protection efforts continue throughout the fire area. Firefighters are maintaining and improving hoselays, sprinkler systems, and defensible space around structures. Crews and resources assigned to the incident remain available to respond to new fire starts."
Evacuations
An interactive map shows the level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations in Chelan County for communities near the fire, and you can sign up for evacuation notifications in your area on Everbridge. Residents should be prepared for changes in evacuation levels, as fire conditions can change rapidly. A Red Cross shelter has been established at Entiat Warehouse Community Church, 14916 US-97A, Entiat, WA. For info, call 509-784-2710.
Red Cross Emergency Center Location: Entiat Warehouse Community Church, 14916 US-97A, Entiat, Washington. Phone: 509-784-2710.
Safety and Closures
Officials remind those in the area to stay near the shore and clear of firefighting aircraft scooping water from lakes and rivers.
There is an updated forest closure for portions of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in the area of the Little Giant Fire. For specific locations, closure order, and maps, visit the forest’s website here.
This closure prohibits entry or use of roads, recreation sites, and trails within a defined area within the Wenatchee River/Entiat Ranger Districts to ensure the safety of the public and firefighting resources during the Little Giant Fire.
Level 2 fire restrictions are in effect for public lands on the forest.
Smoke: A daily smoke outlook is being produced for the area by incident-qualified air resource advisors. That outlook can be found here. Additional information can be found on the Washington Smoke Blog here.
More details: facebook.com/LittleGiantFire2026 and inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-little-giant-fire
©2026 Cox Media Group
