Lower Sugarloaf Fire reaches 20 percent containment

A Type 1 heavy helicopter draws water to deliver to firefighters working on containing the Lower Sugarloaf Fire. Wildfire areas are "No Drone Zones," as unauthorized drone use puts aerial resources and firefighters at risk.

NORTHWEST TEAM 3

A Sept. 18 briefing map shows areas of containment along the fire perimeter in black. Officials noted that fire activity along the northern perimeter Wednesday evening was not reflected on the map.

NORTHWEST TEAM 3

Posted Thursday, September 18, 2025 4:33 pm

By TAYLOR CALDWELL
Ward Media Staff Reporter

OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST — The 20,000-acre Lower Sugarloaf Fire has reached 20 percent as of Thursday morning.

Containment has progressed primarily along segments of the fire perimeter near the Chumstick Highway corridor area, from above Merry Canyon down toward Eagle Creek. According to Operations Section Chief Thaddeus Niebel, containment in that area is expected to increase in the coming days. Containment along the fire perimeter has also been indicated near Ardenvoir, and along a portion of Entiat Ridge on the northeast side.

According to fire officials, the fire was more active in the northwest and southeast flanks over Wednesday, with the fire pushing up to Service Road 52 near Plain. Niebel said crews were able to hold the fire within containment lines through defensive action.

Thursday’s operations included implementing burning operations to clean up burned fuels between the fireline and fire edge, as conditions allowed, as well as looking for opportunities to establish a direct line near the fire perimeter. Heavy equipment operators are continuing to clear and prepare forest roads near Derby, Ollala and Nahahum canyons.

Evacuation levels have remained the same since Tuesday; updates and a map of affected areas can be found on the Chelan County Emergency Management website. Forest closures of the area can be found on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest website.

The lightning-caused fire is burning 12 miles northeast of Leavenworth, between the valleys of Chumstick Highway and Entiat. Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) Northwest Team 2 assumed command from Northwest Team 3 Thursday morning, which has overseen both the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain fires over the last two weeks. There are 1,265 personnel currently assigned to the Lower Sugarloaf Fire. Fire officials say the fire is continuing to be managed under a full suppression strategy, using direct and indirect line construction, as well as point protection for specific critical values at risk.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media