Little Giant Fire

August 16, 2026 · Evening report · Plain, Washington

Data captured Aug 16, 4:14 PM PDT · unofficial & automated — in an emergency use Watch Duty and official alerts, not this page

This is an archived report from August 16, 2026 · Evening. Read the latest brief →

The Bennetts' house remains inside the Little Giant Level 1 "Get Ready" zone. Level 2 and Level 3 were both re-touched this afternoon (3:20–3:21 PM PDT) but at the same distances as this morning — 2.0 mi NNE and 3.7 mi NNE — so this reads as a republish, not a boundary move. The GIS perimeter is unchanged and now over 23 hours stale, but InciWeb and local press put growth at 132,978 acres as of this morning; no new near-Plain heat appeared, and tonight's wind forecast dropped the light north component flagged this morning in favor of NW, staying favorable for Plain through Thursday.

Evacuation status

The Bennetts' house is INSIDE Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready) (Level 1). Follow official instructions — see the sources below.

Fire size132,351 acGIS perimeter of Aug 15, 4:57 PM PDT

Contained10%of the perimeter, per NIFC

Nearest fire edge7.3 miN of the house · as of Aug 15, 4:57 PM PDT

Satellite heat, 24 h7 minearest detection, N of the house · 258 in the surrounding ~50 mi

Air quality108 AQIUnhealthy for sensitive groups · modeled at the house

County road blocksnonelogged by the county · construction delays are in Roads, below

Level 3 — Go now
Level 2 — Get set
Level 1 — Get ready
Fire perimeter
Satellite heat, 24 h (brighter = fresher)
The Bennetts' house

Evacuation zones from the Chelan County Sheriff's live layer; fire perimeter from NIFC as of Aug 15, 4:57 PM PDT. Base geography is hand-plotted and approximate. Rings mark straight-line miles from the house. Containment lines are not mapped — no public GIS source carries them; the brief describes where they are.

The last 24 hours

The house is still inside the Level 1 "Get Ready" zone, unchanged since yesterday's 3:03 PM PDT redraw. Level 2 "Get Set" and Level 3 "Go Now" were both edited again this afternoon — Level 2 at 3:20 PM PDT, Level 3 at 3:21 PM PDT — but landed at the same 2.0 mi NNE and 3.7 mi NNE reported this morning, with identical geometry. Two Lake Chelan-side zones (LG Chelan Level 2 and 3, 15.1–16 mi out) were touched within the same minute, which points to a systemwide zone republish rather than a Plain-specific move. Per the runbook, an edit timestamp change is still logged as a zone edit regardless of whether the boundary moved, so this counts as an active-day trigger even though nothing on the ground shifted.

The GIS perimeter itself hasn't refreshed since last night: still 132,351 acres, 10% contained, dated Aug 15, 4:57 PM PDT — now over 23 hours stale. InciWeb's Aug 16, 8:45 AM update and the Cashmere Valley Record both give a newer 132,978 acres, still 10% contained; per the reconciliation rule that newer figure is working current until the GIS layer catches up. The Chelan County evacuation-zone page updated for the first time in days (Aug 16, 10:47 AM), describing Level 1 as south of Chiwawa Loop Road/east of SR 207/north of Beaver Valley Road and Level 2 as east of Chiwawa River Road/north of Chiwawa Loop Road — narrative color only, not a boundary source, but it lines up with the GIS-mapped zones. lakewenatcheeinfo.com again returned no usable content this cycle, the same recurring gap as prior briefs.

What stands between the fire and Plain

Nothing moved closer. The nearest mapped perimeter edge holds at 7.3 mi N (on the stale snapshot), and the nearest VIIRS heat detection is 7 mi N. No new near-Plain heat cluster appeared this cycle — the persistent clusters at 7.7–9.3 mi N/NNE/NNW just logged more detections in the same footprints, and the still-unverified single-day cluster at 6.4 mi N carried over unchanged (2 detections, max FRP 1.12); it needs a second day before it's more than noise.

Fire weather

Favorable and slightly better than this morning's forecast: W at 3 mph this afternoon, and tonight now reads NW around 5 mph — this morning's forecast had flagged a light north-wind window for tonight, but the updated forecast (issued 3:50 PM PDT) replaced it with northwest. NW/W conditions hold through Thursday (3–9 mph, gusts light). No Red Flag Warning, no thunderstorm chance.

Air quality

Improved: modeled AQI is 108 (down from 110), PM2.5 20.6 µg/m³ (down from 38.5). A new NWS Spokane Air Quality Alert took effect at 11:54 AM today, renewed right at the prior alert's noon expiry, and runs through Aug 17, 12:00 PM.

Roads: no blocks logged.

What I'd watch

Whether Level 1 upgrades to Level 2. Today's edits changed timestamps, not levels or boundaries — a level change at the house's own zone remains the real trigger.
The 6.4 mi N heat cluster's second day. Still single-day as of this writing; tomorrow morning's run will show whether it persists.
The GIS perimeter refresh. It's been stuck on Aug 15, 4:57 PM for two full cycles while InciWeb has moved to 132,978 acres — worth confirming once the mapped layer catches up.

The plan, decided in advance

If a Level 1 zone reaches the house: confirm go-bags, documents, and medications are staged; keep both vehicles above half a tank; recheck this page and Watch Duty morning and evening.
If Level 2 reaches the house: load the cars, position them facing out, and leave early if anyone is home alone or mobility-limited. Do not wait for Level 3 to decide.
If Level 3 reaches the house — leave immediately: primary route Beaver Valley Rd → SR 207 → US 2; alternate Chumstick Hwy to Leavenworth (mind the pilot-car delays); US 2 west over Stevens Pass if east is compromised.

Default plan drafted from Ready-Set-Go guidance — worth a family walk-through while things are calm. Authorities' instructions override it.

Evacuation zones, measured from the house

Zone	Level	From the house	Boundary last edited
Little Giant	Level 1	INSIDE THIS ZONE	Aug 15, 3:03 PM PDT
Little Giantchanged <24 h	Level 2	2 mi NNE (20°)	Aug 16, 3:20 PM PDT
Little Giantchanged <24 h	Level 3	3.7 mi NNE (16°)	Aug 16, 3:21 PM PDT
LG Entiat	Level 3	8.4 mi ENE (58°)	Aug 10, 9:31 AM PDT
LG Entiat	Level 2	10.8 mi ESE (104°)	Aug 8, 6:15 PM PDT
LG Entiat	Level 1	12.3 mi ESE (115°)	Aug 8, 5:51 PM PDT
LG Chelanchanged <24 h	Level 3	15.1 mi NE (53°)	Aug 16, 3:17 PM PDT
LG Chelanchanged <24 h	Level 2	16 mi ENE (76°)	Aug 16, 3:18 PM PDT
LG Chelan	Level 1	17.2 mi E (85°)	Aug 13, 1:33 PM PDT
LG Manson	Level 3	23 mi NNE (33°)	Aug 1, 8:16 PM PDT
LG Manson	Level 2	23.9 mi NE (42°)	Aug 1, 8:12 PM PDT
LG Manson	Level 1	25.4 mi ENE (59°)	Aug 2, 1:25 PM PDT

Zone geometry comes only from the Sheriff's GIS layer — news descriptions of boundaries have run 10+ days behind the actual polygon edits. Distances are straight-line to the zone boundary.

Wind and weather, next four days

Air Quality Alert — in effect until Aug 17, 12:00 PM PDT

This AfternoonW 3 mphHaze · 84°F
TonightNW 5 mphAreas Of Smoke then Haze · 54°F
MondayW 0 to 3 mphAreas Of Smoke · 87°F
Monday NightNW 6 mphPartly Cloudy · 54°F
TuesdayNW 3 to 9 mphSunny · 84°F
Tuesday NightNW 6 to 9 mphMostly Clear · 51°F
WednesdayW 1 to 6 mphSunny · 86°F
Wednesday NightNW 2 to 7 mphPartly Cloudy · 54°F

Report history

Report	Fire size (GIS)	Contained	Nearest edge	Zone status
Sep 17 · Evening	172,814 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 17 · Morning	172,814 ac+109	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 16 · Evening	172,705 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 16 · Morning	172,705 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 15 · Evening	172,705 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 15 · Morning	172,705 ac+22	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 14 · Evening	172,683 ac−12	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones

Previous reports(69)

Sep 14 · Morning	172,695 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 13 · Evening	172,695 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 13 · Morning	172,695 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 12 · Evening	172,695 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 12 · Morning	172,695 ac+103	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 11 · Evening	172,592 ac+191	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 11 · Morning	172,401 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 10 · Evening	172,401 ac+4	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 10 · Morning	172,397 ac+198	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 9 · Evening	172,199 ac+32	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 9 · Morning	172,167 ac+641	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 8 · Morning	171,526 ac+68	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 7 · Evening	171,458 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 7 · Morning	171,458 ac+295	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 6 · Evening	171,163 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 6 · Morning	171,163 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 5 · Evening	171,163 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 5 · Morning	171,163 ac+178	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 4 · Evening	170,985 ac	81%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 4 · Morning	170,985 ac+17	73%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 3 · Evening	170,968 ac+213	65%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 3 · Morning	170,755 ac	65%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 2 · Evening	170,755 ac+110	49%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 2 · Morning	170,645 ac+5	49%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 1 · Evening	170,640 ac−144	49%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Sep 1 · Morning	170,784 ac	49%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Aug 31 · Evening	170,784 ac+7,706	49%	5.2 mi NNE	outside all zones
Aug 31 · Morning	163,078 ac−11	49%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 30 · Evening	163,089 ac+535	27%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 30 · Morning	162,554 ac+14	27%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 29 · Evening	162,540 ac+296	27%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 29 · Morning	162,244 ac−717	27%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 28 · Evening	162,961 ac+1,829	25%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 28 · Morning	161,132 ac+11,271	25%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 27 · Evening	149,861 ac	23%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 27 · Morning	149,861 ac	23%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 26 · Evening	149,861 ac+2,235	23%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 26 · Morning	147,626 ac	23%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 25 · Evening	147,626 ac+1,584	21%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 25 · Morning	146,042 ac	21%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 24 · Evening	146,042 ac+1,212	15%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 24 · Morning	144,830 ac	15%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 23 · Evening	144,830 ac+2,604	15%	5.2 mi NNE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 23 · Morning	142,226 ac	15%	5.3 mi NE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 22 · Evening	142,226 ac+8	15%	5.3 mi NE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 22 · Morning	142,218 ac+2,731	15%	5.3 mi NE	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 21 · Evening	139,487 ac	12%	6.6 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 21 · Morning	139,487 ac+910	12%	6.6 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 20 · Evening	138,577 ac+102	12%	6.6 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 20 · Morning	138,475 ac+882	12%	6.6 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 19 · Evening	137,593 ac+299	10%	6.7 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 19 · Morning	137,294 ac+1,309	10%	6.8 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 18 · Evening	135,985 ac	10%	7 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 18 · Morning	135,985 ac+1,350	10%	7 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 17 · Evening	134,635 ac+2,284	10%	7.1 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 17 · Morning	132,351 ac	10%	7.3 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 16 · Evening	132,351 ac	10%	7.3 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 16 · Morning	132,351 ac+4,266	10%	7.3 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 15 · Evening	128,085 ac	10%	8.1 mi N	Little Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 15 · Morning	128,085 ac	10%	8.1 mi N	outside all zones
Aug 14 · Evening	128,085 ac	7%	8.1 mi N	outside all zones
Aug 14 · Morning	128,085 ac−219	7%	8.1 mi N	outside all zones
Aug 13 · Evening	128,304 ac+533	5%	8.1 mi N	outside all zones
Aug 13 · Morning	127,771 ac+283	5%	8.1 mi N	outside all zones
Aug 12 · Evening	127,488 ac	5%	8.6 mi NNW	outside all zones
Aug 12 · Morning	127,488 ac+5,087	5%	8.6 mi NNW	outside all zones
Aug 11 · Evening	122,401 ac	2%	8.6 mi NNW	outside all zones
Aug 11 · Morning	122,401 ac+5,445	2%	8.6 mi NNW	outside all zones
Aug 10 · Evening	116,956 ac	2%	8.6 mi NNW	outside all zones

Sources

Previous briefs

Full archive →

The limits of this page

This page is an automated, unofficial synthesis and can be wrong or stale. It is not a substitute for official alerts. For live evacuation status use Watch Duty, Chelan County Emergency Management, and Everbridge alerts. In an emergency, follow instructions from local authorities.