Little Giant, Sisi Fires hold as weather trends warmer

LEAVENWORTH — The size of the Little Giant and Sisi Fires are holding steady as weather trends toward warmer and drier conditions.

The Little Giant Fire is 172,814 acres as of Sept. 17 with 81% containment. The Sisi Fire is 3,691 acres with 5% containment. Incident command transfers from NW Team 12 to NW Team 13 Thursday evening.

Officials said warmer weather moved over the Little Giant Fire Wednesday, with light smoke lingering along active fire edges near Trinity and within the Cougar Fire scar. Firefighters continued to focus on hazard tree removal, equipment backhaul and fire suppression repair. Helitack personnel completed backhaul of hoses and supplies that were no longer needed via sling load near Twin Lakes, with crews repairing handline in the area.

Thursday, officials said firefighters are continuing to engage in suppression repair on Fault Line Road and adjacent dozer lines, while crews install water bars along the Entiat River corridor and repair dozer line south of Tyee Lookout.

Hazard tree removal is continuing in the Chiwawa River and Entiat River corridors. Crews are also repairing dozer lines in First Creek, Twenty-five Mile, and along Forest Service Road 8300. Firefighters began a boat-based operation to repair handline along the north shore of Lake Chelan.

The Sisi Fire has experienced more active fire behavior during the current warm and dry trends, largely due to receiving less weekend rainfall than the Little Giant Fire. Firefighters working near the fire observed flare-ups and torching along active fire edges at lower elevations.

Firefighters are planning to use unmanned aircraft systems (USA) to conduct small-scale, precision firing operations along the northwestern flank of the fire, anchoring the fire edge to the Agnes Creek Trail. Firing operations are dependent on weather and fuel moisture conditions. Officials said crews will be monitoring the weather closely to assess the timing and viability of operations.

Crews installed hose along Agnes Creek Trail, which is considered to be a highly defensible location for limiting fire suppression. Establishing the trail as an anchor point, officials said, will strengthen the effectiveness of primary and secondary control lines and improve firefighters’ ability to hold the fire in place. Chipping and brush-piling operations continue along the community protection line.

A forest closure order is in place for the Wenatchee River and Entiat Ranger Districts and fire restrictions remain in effect. There is a closure for North Cascades National Park for portions of the PCT (Agnes Creek Trail) as well as other trails and area closures. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are in effect over the Little Giant and Sisi Fires; unauthorized drones are prohibited within the TFRs.

Current evacuation orders for the area can be found on the Chelan County Emergency Incidents Map. Residents can also sign up to receive direct evacuation notifications via the Everbridge Emergency Alert Program.