Published Thursday, July 30, 2026, 2020 hours PT

The Little Giant Fire

❗LEVEL 3 (GO NOW!) Evacuations issued by Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (Source: Chelan Co EMA/7/30/2026 @ 1939 PT)

  • Entiat Valley Road (FS Rd 5100)
  • From Entiat Sno-Park to Cottonwood (FS Rd 5100-124)
  • Myrtle Lake area

Evacuations

This is a dynamic and rapidly evolving fire. For the latest information on current evacuations, please visit Chelan County Emergency Management Active Emergencies page for more information. The public can sign up to get alerts directly to them by visiting: https://member.everbridge.net/406411280384261/login

Incident Summary

The Little Giant Fire was sparked on July 16, 2026, by lightning about 22 miles northwest of Leavenworth (Chelan County), Washington, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. It is located in timber and brush.

Current Status

🔥25,407 acres. 0% contained.

🔥Level 3 evacuations are in effect. (see above information)

🔥452 structures are under threat.

💵CTD: 3.9 million dollars.

Resources

🧑‍🚒688 personnel

🚒15 engines

🧑‍🚒13 hand crews

🔥4 dozers

🚁1 helicopter

🔥13 masticators

💧6 water tenders

Fire Operations (this AM, which has changed)

For most of Wednesday, the majority of the Little Giant Fire was blanketed in smoke, therefore slowing fire activity. The priorities for the suppression of the Little Giant and Dirtyface Fires remain the establishment of primary and secondary containment lines and structure defense.

A fire helicopter attempted to fly the fire in the morning and again in the early afternoon, but due to the smoke, they were unable to continue additional missions until later in the afternoon when the smoke cleared. Once the smoke cleared, the helicopter was able to perform water drops on Minnow Ridge and the ridge above Raging Creek. These water drops cool the edges of the fire, reducing its rate of spread.

On the ground, firefighters worked on containment lines from the Community Protection Line (FS6300) in Big Meadow Creek, toward Alder Ridge, and along FS6104 toward Maverick Peak.

Backing, lower-intensity fire is burning downhill on both sides above Raging Creek on the southern edge. East of there, the fire is roughly following the edge of the 2022 Minnow Ridge Fire, slowing its progress. North of that, the section of the fire in Three Creek drainage is also moving downslope toward the Entiat River as it reaches the 2015 Wolverine Fire footprint. Fire behavior models this movement toward the south.

To the northeast, also within the 2015 Wolverine Fire footprint, the previously mentioned spot fires increased in activity on Wednesday, especially in the afternoon once the smoke cleared. This was expected.

In addition to suppression activities, firefighters are also preparing for an increase in winds forecasted into the weekend. The incident management team has established an initial attack group in addition to the fire crews working on both fires. This initial attack group is comprised of pre-identified firefighters who are ready to respond to any new ignitions with a focus on direct suppression.

The one-acre Dirtyface Fire is now 91% contained, and firefighters have reported very minimal activity. They are patrolling the fire and suppressing any remaining hotspots.

Fire Map

Sources

  • NWCC
  • NIFC
  • Chelan County EMA

Hashtags Used for this Incident

#wawildfires2026

#littlegiantfire

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