The Lower Sugarloaf Fire added over 3,600 acres to its footprint, and even created a new one on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on Thursday.

The blaze, which was ignited by a lightning strike 12 miles east of Leavenworth on the Wenatchee River Ranger District on Aug. 31, has now grown to an estimated 34,697 acres and is officially listed as 32% contained.

A round of high winds under a Red Flag Warning over the fire zone aggressively pushed the blaze in an east-southeasterly direction on Thursday, where it touched off a spot fire which grew rapidly in Swakane Canyon.

All of both Swakane and Nahahum Canyons were placed on a Level 3 "Leave Now!" evacuation notice by the early evening, along with all of Warner Canyon and the upper portion of Burch Mountain Road.

The brisk winds also

See Full Page