The Little Giant Fire in Chelan County, Washington, has grown to nearly 150,000 acres and now stands as the second-largest wildfire in Washington state history, with fire officials calling it the No. 2 priority fire in the entire nation. As of Wednesday, August 26, the fire is just 21 percent contained, and high temperatures, drying winds, and parched fuels are keeping crews on the defensive.

A Lightning Strike Becomes a Catastrophe

The fire ignited in late July from a lightning strike along the Little Giant Trail in a remote corner of Chelan County. Initially a backcountry ignition, it rapidly escaped control and ran across steep, heavily timbered slopes in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near the town of Plain, Washington — just miles from Lake Wenatchee and the broader Chiwawa River Valley.

"It just ran across the slopes through the unburned areas, the natural timber stands where there were no natural barriers to really slow the fire spread," said Tim Ritchy, the incident commander overseeing the fire. Ritchy leads the California Complex Incident Management Team 5, which took over operations as the fire escalated to a national priority.

Communities Under Threat

Fire officials confirmed Wednesday that more than 6,000 structures — including homes, cabins, outbuildings, and businesses — are currently threatened in the Lake Chelan, Chiwawa, and Entiat areas. Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect for numerous communities, and residents along key corridors have been urged to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

"This is the high-priority portion of the fire, especially with the communities down along Lake Chelan," Ritchy said during a media briefing at Plain Base Camp in Plain, Washington, pointing to a map showing the fire's proximity to populated lakeshore areas.

Massive Firefighting Force Deployed

A total of 1,857 fire personnel are currently assigned to the Little Giant Fire. That figure includes 240 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers, deployed as part of the Department of Defense's support to the ongoing fire crisis in the Northwest.

"We were trained in line cutting, debris removal, fire safety and fire behavior that you would see among much of the agency fire crews," said Maj. Donny Galatis, describing the military's role. "The mission is quite unique in itself. But we are here to help support the community."

The Washington Army National Guard is also assisting, and dozens of hand crew members are working in rugged terrain along Goose Creek Road to secure fire lines in heavily timbered sections of the burn.

What to Expect in Coming Days

Forecasters are warning of continued high temperatures and breezy conditions in the days ahead, which could push the fire toward unburned timber and residential areas. Crews are working to construct contingency lines and protect structures while conducting active suppression operations where terrain allows.

The Little Giant Fire sits behind only a fire in Oregon in current national priority ranking. Residents in the affected areas should monitor local emergency management channels for the latest evacuation information and be prepared to act quickly.

  • Current size: Approximately 150,000 acres
  • Containment: 21%
  • Structures threatened: 6,000+
  • Personnel assigned: 1,857 (including 240 Army soldiers)
  • Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Chelan County, WA