The Mills Canyon fire burned 22,571 acres (35.3 sq mi; 91.3 km2), all within Chelan County. The fire was located south of the Entiat River and west of U.S. Route 97A and the Columbia River in the Entiat Mountains. It started on July 8 and the cause is under investigation.[2]
July 14 lightning-strike fires
Satellite image of smoke plumes, July 18, 2014
A number of fires were started by lightning strikes on July 14.
Carlton complex fire scar in false-color infrared, July 31, 2014. Burned vegetation appears red, and the most severely burned areas are generally the darkest. Unburned forests appear dark green. Actively growing farmland is bright green; unburned grasslands and brushlands are tan; and rivers are navy blue. Scale bar at lower left is 5km (3 mi.)Weeks after a wildfire in 2014 destroyed much of the town of Pateros, this was all that remained of several blocks that were burned down to the foundations.
The Carlton Complex, covering 256,108 acres (400.2 sq mi; 1,036 km2), began as four separate lightning-caused fires on July 14 in the Methow River valley of Okanogan County: the Cougar Flat, French Creek, Gold Hike, and Stokes fires. These fires merged and rapidly spread southeast on July 17, burning approximately 300 homes in and around the towns of Pateros and Malott as well as in more rural areas.[4] The communities of Brewster, Carlton, and Methow were also threatened by fire. Power was lost to the communities of Twisp and Winthrop. Road closures included State Route 20 east of Twisp towards Loup Loup Pass, State Route 153 between Twisp and Pateros, and U.S. Route 97 between Pateros and Brewster.[5][6] Rain slowed the fire on July 24, allowing crews to reach 60% containment by July 26.[7] A new fire started along State Route 20 south of Winthrop on August 1.[6]
The Carlton Complex was the largest wildfire in Washington state's recorded history, surpassing the 1902 Yacolt Burn.[8] One death, caused by a heart attack, has been blamed on the fire.[8]Fire fighting efforts included nearly 3,000 personnel and numerous aircraft, including seven UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Washington National Guard and a DC-10 Air Tanker.[7]
Covering 12,659 acres (20 sq mi; 51 km2), the Duncan fire was located in the upper Entiat River drainage. It began on a ridge between the Entiat River and the North Fork Entiat River, eventually spreading east across the North Fork.[9][10][11]
Kelly Mountain fire
Located in the Entiat Mountains near Tommy Creek, the Kelly Mountain fire burned 124 acres (0.2 sq mi; 0.5 km2).[9]
Hansel fire – 1,016 acres (2 sq mi; 4 km2). The Hansel fire burned near Ingalls Creek and U.S. Route 97 in Chelan County.[9]
Little Bridge Creek fire – 4,896 acres (7.6 sq mi; 20 km2). Located between the Twisp River and State Route 20 in Okanogan County.[15]
Shoofly fire – 160 acres (0.25 sq mi; 0.65 km2) in the upper drainage of the Little Wenatchee River in Chelan County.[9]
Snag Canyon fire – 12,667 acres (20 sq mi; 51 km2). Located north of Ellensburg in Kittitas County, the Snag Canyon fire burned six homes.[16][17]
Upper Falls fire – 8,118 acres (13 sq mi; 33 km2). This fire burned in the Okanogan National Forest west of the Chewuch River.[18]
South Cle Elum Ridge fire
This fire was reported on August 7 on the Wenatchee National Forest southwest of Cle Elum in Kittitas County and burned 894 acres (1.4 sq mi; 3.6 km2).[19]
