Chelan nearly a ghost town as wildfire devastates area during height of tourist season

CHELAN, Wash. -- Hundreds of firefighters on Tuesday battled the Chelan Complex Fire, which grew overnight to more than 63,000 acres. It is only 30% contained.

The fires surrounding Chelan are pumping the sky full of smoke and soot, pushing tourists and big bucks out of town.

“It’s the fires, the smoke and everything is keeping everybody off" the lake, said Ben Sines, manager of Outlaw BBQ and Steak House.

Summer is supposed to be Lake Chelan’s moneymaker but downtown Chelan is nearly a ghost town.

“Our main attraction is the lake,” said Sines. “We have a big, huge beautiful lake and you can’t even see it right now.”

The thick smoke forced some people to wear face masks downtown.

Joe Heinlen runs Lake Chelan Adventures and usually he’s booked solid with anglers looking for a bite.

“I think it’s eight trips now that I’ve lost in a row,” he said, “People calling and canceled.”

Joe chartered Q13 Fox News for a water-level view of the devastation along the south shore where home after home burned to the ground.

“Everybody left our town and it’s pretty devastating,” said Heinlen. “Usually I’m booked solid this month. We’re already seeing it in town with the lack of people that are here.”

Many people around the lake are still under evacuation notices that tell them to be ready to leave at a moment's notice if the wind and fire shifts again.