Wenatchee wildfire: Boy arrested, evacuation levels lowered

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A fire burning near Wenatchee forced some evacuations on July 5, 2024. (National Weather Service)

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said a boy was taken into custody after crews witnessed fireworks going off before the Balsam Root Fire started in the same area.

According to the Wenatchee World, crews were monitoring a separate fireworks-caused fire when they saw additional fireworks going off in the Horse Lake Reserve early Friday.

Crews said it was unclear if the two fires were connected, but authorities booked the boy into the Chelan County Juvenile Center.

Earlier Level 3 evacuations were all downgraded to Level 1 fire advisory. Those near the fire are asked to remain vigilant and monitor conditions.

As of noon Friday, the Balsam Root Fire was 30% contained and had burned a few hundred acres.

A Red Cross Shelter has been set up at the Wenatchee Seventh-Day Adventist Church located at 508 N Western Ave. in Wenatchee for those seeking refuge from the wildfire.

Authorities have also closed the Sage Hills Trail system, which includes No. 1 Canyon up to the Horselake Preserve, to prevent any further fire risks and to protect public safety.

Deteriorating fire weather conditions have prompted a red flag warning to be put into effect until Friday evening. The area is experiencing critical fire weather conditions, characterized by hot and dry weather with wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph, particularly in the Cascade gaps. These strong winds are expected to intensify in the late afternoon and early evening.

The Chelan County Emergency Management urges the community to remain vigilant, refrain from activities that could start new fires, and to follow the evacuation orders for their safety. With many in the Wenatchee area closely monitoring the situation, officials are calling for everyone to exercise caution and prevent further fire emergencies this weekend.