The Little Giant Fire burning approximately 30 miles northwest of Leavenworth in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest grew dramatically overnight Thursday into Friday, exploding from just under 1,100 acres to an officially estimated 7,558 acres in roughly 36 hours. The fire, which ignited from a lightning strike on July 15, is now 0% contained — a step backward from the 4% containment reported earlier this week.

Where the Fire Is Burning

The Little Giant Fire is located in the Chiwawa River Drainage within the Glacier Peak Wilderness, burning in dead and downed timber inside an old burn scar near 19-Mile Campground. The remote terrain — steep, rocky slopes inaccessible to ground crews — has severely hampered direct firefighting efforts, and aerial suppression has been complicated by persistent winds and reduced visibility from smoke.

Fire managers with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Type 3 Incident Management Team say the bulk of recent fire spread has occurred on the eastern and southeastern flanks, pushing from Rock Creek Drainage across Basalt Ridge toward Finner Creek and Y Creek.

Expanded Evacuation Orders

As the fire’s perimeter grew, Chelan County authorities expanded evacuation orders on Friday. Current levels are:

  • Level 3 (Go Now): Trinity area and homes on Chikamin Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 6210)
  • Level 2 (Be Ready): Atkinson Flats (Forest Service Road 6200) to Grouse Creek Group Campground
  • Level 1 (Be Aware): Grouse Creek Group Campground to Alder Creek (Forest Service Road 6208)

No structures have been reported as damaged or destroyed, and there are no reported injuries as of Friday’s update. Camping areas and trails in the affected drainage remain closed.

What’s Driving the Growth

Officials point to a combination of escalating temperatures, increasing winds, and exceptionally dry fuels as the drivers behind the fire’s explosive growth. Air quality in nearby Leavenworth has registered as Very Unhealthy (AQI 213) in recent days, and communities like Entiat (AQI 217) and Orondo (AQI 246) are experiencing Very Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions. Residents in these communities should limit outdoor activity and wear N95 masks if going outside.

Fire managers expect conditions to remain dangerous through Saturday before a slight moderation in temperatures Sunday, though gusty winds will continue to pose a challenge. Monitor InciWeb and Chelan County Emergency Management for the latest updates.