City of East Wenatchee Asking Public to Stay Away From Planes Scooping Water From Columbia River

The city of East Wenatchee is asking boaters to stay away from planes scooping water from the Columbia River to battle the nearby brush fire.

The planes have been a daily fixture flying overhead and then dipping onto the river between Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.

Police have had to order boats and other watercraft to leave the area, and in some cases have threatened to discipline those who've failed to follow instructions.

The planes have been flying in groups while circling the river and the nearby hilly slopes where the Red Apple Fire has threatened more than a thousand homes.

There's also major concern about people flying drones, because anytime a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft that would have been fighting the blaze have to fly back to an airport and land.

Winds have blown most of the smoke from the fire north and away from the Wenatchee Valley, although the fire has grown to consume 11,000 acres and is only 10 percent contained as of Friday morning.

(Image from City of East Wenatchee)