Orondo area brush fire, 97A is preferred alternate route

UPDATE 3:45pm

Crews from Douglas and Chelan County and the Department of Natural Resources have been working a fast moving brush fire 3 miles south south of Orondo near Estes Fruit Stand along US2. Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal says several structures are threatened so a Level 1 evacuation alert is posted for a one mile radius around the fire.  Firefighters are standing by at one residence to provide structure protection.

Gjesdal did not have an estimated acreage figure on the fire which was first reported about 2pm. Firefighters with assistance of at least one helicopter are trying to keep the fire from advancing north to Orondo or cresting the hill into Badger Mountain.  Douglas PUD reports the power is out in Orondo, Brays Landing and Waterville.

US2 is open with alternating traffic but the Department of Transportation is urging motorists to avoid the area and use highway 97A on the Chelan County side of the Columbia River as an alternate route. The fire was reported a result of a blown tire on a vehicle pulling a boat.

Original Post

A 2nd alarm brush fire has started 3 miles south south of Orondo along US2 at milepost 137.

Crews from Department of Natural Resources, two helicopters and local jurisdictions have been ordered at the scene.  The fire was reported about 2pm.  Douglas PUD reports the power is out in Orondo, Brays Landing and Waterville.

US2 is open with alternating traffic but the Department of Transportation is urging motorists to avoid the area and use highway 97A on the Chelan County side of the Columbia River as an alternate route.

The fire was reported a result of a blown tire on a vehicle pulling a boat.