Little Giant FirePlain, Washington

Little Giant Fire

August 20, 2026 · Morning report · Plain, Washington

Data captured Aug 20, 8:16 AM PDT · unofficial & automated — in an emergency use Watch Duty and official alerts, not this page

This is an archived report from August 20, 2026 · Morning. Read the latest brief →

A quiet cycle. The Bennetts' house stays inside the Level 1 "Get Ready" zone, unchanged since Aug 15, with no Little Giant zone edited this run; the GIS perimeter grew a modest 882 acres to 138,475 and containment finally moved off 10%, up to 12% — the first gain in five days, confirmed by InciWeb at the identical figure. The nearest edge held at 6.6 mi N. The 6.3 mi N heat cluster flagged unverified the last two mornings logged its second day and is now persistent, not a possible new start. Winds stay light and mostly favorable; air quality is middling under an alert through 5 PM today.

Evacuation status

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

Fire size138,475 ac+882 since last report
Contained12%+2 pts since last report
Nearest fire edge6.6 miN of the house · as of Aug 20, 5:59 AM PDT · −0.1 mi vs last report
Satellite heat, 24 h6.4 minearest detection, N of the house · 458 in the surrounding ~50 mi
Air quality60 AQIModerate · modeled at the house
County road blocksnonelogged by the county · construction delays are in Roads, below
PlainLake WenatcheeFish LakeColes CornerAlder CreekTwin CreekAtkinson FlatTrinityLeavenworthStevens Pass6.6 miThe Bennetts' housefire continues east →
  • 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 20, 5:59 AM 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 remains inside the Level 1 "Get Ready" zone, unchanged since the Aug 15 redraw. No Little Giant zone was edited this cycle — Level 2 "Get Set" holds at 2.0 mi NNE and Level 3 "Go Now" at 3.7 mi NNE, both exactly where they've sat since Aug 16.

The GIS perimeter refreshed to Aug 20, 5:59 AM PDT: 138,475 acres, 12% contained, up 882 acres from last night and — for the first time since Aug 15 — off the flat 10%, now 12%. InciWeb's Aug 20 update carries the identical 138,475 acres, 12%, so the mapped layer and the official figure agree exactly, no reconciliation needed. The nearest perimeter edge held essentially flat at 6.6 mi N, in 0.1 mi from last night. InciWeb notes fire behavior remains "surface fire, backing and flanking," with "localized uphill/up-drainage runs, torching and spotting" in the Chiwawa River drainage — activity on the fire's own edges, not a move toward Plain, but the Chiwawa is the corridor worth keeping an eye on. A large resource surge arrives today: roughly 275 active-duty Army and 110 National Guard personnel, on top of the Australia/New Zealand crews already on the line.

The pending Chiwawa item resolves in one direction: the Chelan County evacuation-zone page is still on its Aug 17, 3:30 PM post describing a Level 3 expansion in the Chiwawa River area, now three days old with no matching edit in the mapped zone layer (Level 3's last edit stays Aug 16, 3:21 PM PDT). A general search surfaced only older articles (acreage figures below today's) and a vague "Thursday" evacuation tweak near the Lake Wenatchee–Entiat gap with "no structures in the newly added area" — unconfirmed in the GIS and not Plain-side, so not carried as fact. Lake Chelan Now again showed no Little Giant content and lakewenatcheeinfo.com again returned no usable content (recurring bot-check gap).

VIIRS: nearest detection 6.4 mi N (4 hours old). The 6.3 mi N cluster flagged UNVERIFIED the last two mornings logged its second calendar day (Aug 19–20, 17 detections) and is now classified persistent — fire-edge activity, not a new start, which clears that watch item. One lone new single-day detection appeared at 6.8 mi NNE (1 hit, max FRP 1.49) — too small to mean anything on its own; noting it only for the record.

Fire weather

Light and mostly favorable: NW 0–5 mph today pushing the fire east, away from Plain, then a soft N 5 mph overnight — a weak northerly component toward the Chiwawa/White River drainages, the direction that matters for Plain, but light and brief. Friday turns light SE then W. No Red Flag Warning. The weekend thunderstorm chance still stands (showers and storms possible Saturday) and remains the item to watch for gusty, shifting outflow winds when it arrives.

Air quality

Middling and roughly flat: modeled AQI 60 (from 58 last evening), but PM2.5 rose to 18.3 µg/m³ (from 4.1) as smoke resettled into the valley overnight — the usual overnight pattern. The NWS Spokane Air Quality Alert runs through 5:00 PM PDT today.

Roads: no blocks logged.

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

ZoneLevelFrom the houseBoundary last edited
Little GiantLevel 1INSIDE THIS ZONEAug 15, 3:03 PM PDT
Little GiantLevel 22 mi NNE (20°)Aug 16, 3:20 PM PDT
Little GiantLevel 33.7 mi NNE (16°)Aug 16, 3:21 PM PDT
LG EntiatLevel 38.4 mi ENE (58°)Aug 10, 9:31 AM PDT
LG EntiatLevel 210.8 mi ESE (104°)Aug 8, 6:15 PM PDT
LG EntiatLevel 112.3 mi ESE (115°)Aug 8, 5:51 PM PDT
LG ChelanLevel 315.1 mi NE (53°)Aug 16, 3:17 PM PDT
LG Chelanchanged <24 hLevel 216 mi ENE (76°)Aug 19, 12:57 PM PDT
LG Chelanchanged <24 hLevel 117.2 mi E (85°)Aug 19, 12:57 PM PDT
LG MansonLevel 223 mi NNE (33°)Aug 17, 10:52 AM PDT
LG MansonLevel 123.9 mi NE (42°)Aug 17, 10:52 AM 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 20, 5:00 PM PDT

Air Quality Alert — in effect until Aug 20, 5:00 PM PDT

Air Quality Alert — in effect until Aug 20, 1:00 PM PDT

  • TodayNW 0 to 5 mphHaze then Sunny · 93°F
  • TonightN 5 mphHaze · 58°F
  • FridaySE 0 to 3 mphHaze then Mostly Cloudy · 93°F
  • Friday NightW 3 mphChance Rain Showers · 61°F
  • SaturdayNW 2 to 10 mphChance Showers And Thunderstorms · 84°F
  • Saturday NightNW 7 to 10 mphChance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy · 51°F
  • SundayNW 7 to 10 mphMostly Sunny · 74°F
  • Sunday NightNW 1 to 10 mphMostly Clear · 48°F

Report history

ReportFire size (GIS)ContainedNearest edgeZone status
Sep 17 · Evening172,814 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 17 · Morning172,814 ac+10981%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 16 · Evening172,705 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 16 · Morning172,705 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 15 · Evening172,705 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 15 · Morning172,705 ac+2281%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 14 · Evening172,683 ac1281%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Previous reports(69)
Sep 14 · Morning172,695 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 13 · Evening172,695 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 13 · Morning172,695 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 12 · Evening172,695 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 12 · Morning172,695 ac+10381%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 11 · Evening172,592 ac+19181%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 11 · Morning172,401 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 10 · Evening172,401 ac+481%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 10 · Morning172,397 ac+19881%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 9 · Evening172,199 ac+3281%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 9 · Morning172,167 ac+64181%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 8 · Morning171,526 ac+6881%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 7 · Evening171,458 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 7 · Morning171,458 ac+29581%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 6 · Evening171,163 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 6 · Morning171,163 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 5 · Evening171,163 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 5 · Morning171,163 ac+17881%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 4 · Evening170,985 ac81%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 4 · Morning170,985 ac+1773%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 3 · Evening170,968 ac+21365%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 3 · Morning170,755 ac65%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 2 · Evening170,755 ac+11049%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 2 · Morning170,645 ac+549%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 1 · Evening170,640 ac14449%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Sep 1 · Morning170,784 ac49%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Aug 31 · Evening170,784 ac+7,70649%5.2 mi NNEoutside all zones
Aug 31 · Morning163,078 ac1149%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 30 · Evening163,089 ac+53527%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 30 · Morning162,554 ac+1427%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 29 · Evening162,540 ac+29627%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 29 · Morning162,244 ac71727%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 28 · Evening162,961 ac+1,82925%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 28 · Morning161,132 ac+11,27125%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 27 · Evening149,861 ac23%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 27 · Morning149,861 ac23%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 26 · Evening149,861 ac+2,23523%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 26 · Morning147,626 ac23%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 25 · Evening147,626 ac+1,58421%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 25 · Morning146,042 ac21%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 24 · Evening146,042 ac+1,21215%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 24 · Morning144,830 ac15%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 23 · Evening144,830 ac+2,60415%5.2 mi NNELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 23 · Morning142,226 ac15%5.3 mi NELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 22 · Evening142,226 ac+815%5.3 mi NELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 22 · Morning142,218 ac+2,73115%5.3 mi NELittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 21 · Evening139,487 ac12%6.6 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 21 · Morning139,487 ac+91012%6.6 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 20 · Evening138,577 ac+10212%6.6 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 20 · Morning138,475 ac+88212%6.6 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 19 · Evening137,593 ac+29910%6.7 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 19 · Morning137,294 ac+1,30910%6.8 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 18 · Evening135,985 ac10%7 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 18 · Morning135,985 ac+1,35010%7 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 17 · Evening134,635 ac+2,28410%7.1 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 17 · Morning132,351 ac10%7.3 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 16 · Evening132,351 ac10%7.3 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 16 · Morning132,351 ac+4,26610%7.3 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 15 · Evening128,085 ac10%8.1 mi NLittle Giant - Level 1 (Get Ready)
Aug 15 · Morning128,085 ac10%8.1 mi Noutside all zones
Aug 14 · Evening128,085 ac7%8.1 mi Noutside all zones
Aug 14 · Morning128,085 ac2197%8.1 mi Noutside all zones
Aug 13 · Evening128,304 ac+5335%8.1 mi Noutside all zones
Aug 13 · Morning127,771 ac+2835%8.1 mi Noutside all zones
Aug 12 · Evening127,488 ac5%8.6 mi NNWoutside all zones
Aug 12 · Morning127,488 ac+5,0875%8.6 mi NNWoutside all zones
Aug 11 · Evening122,401 ac2%8.6 mi NNWoutside all zones
Aug 11 · Morning122,401 ac+5,4452%8.6 mi NNWoutside all zones
Aug 10 · Evening116,956 ac2%8.6 mi NNWoutside all zones

Sources

Previous briefs

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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.