By Chris Thew
and Dee Camp
Chronicle staff

     The Green Lake Fire has burned about 1,800 acres of grass, sage and timber west of Omak and Okanogan, according to Bernie Jones of a state type 3 incident management team assigned to the fire.
     The fire, which started around 5:15 p.m. July 31, is about 10 percent contained, according to Jones.
     Okanogan County sheriff Frank Rogers said Friday morning, Aug. 1, that his office’s latest figure on fire size was about 1,000 acres. Most local firefighters were sent home late July 31, though some remained on the fire all night, he added.
     About 50 structures are believed to be threatened, Jones said. A reconnaissance flight on Friday morning will determine the exact size of the fire and number of homes and outbuildings threatened.
     Firefighters from Fire District No. 3 (Omak, Okanogan and Malott) and Fire District No. 9 (rural Conconully) made initial attack on the fire and provided structure protection.
     A state type 2 incident management team is expected to take over control of the fire operations today, Aug. 1, following an initial briefing. The type 3 team likely will be released, according to Jones.
     About 150 people are working on the fire, Jones said. Firefighting crews and equipment include hand crews, engine crews, one or two hot shot crews, 20-person crews, and several bulldozers and engines.
     "We have a few people up there and we're going to have a whole bunch more," Jones said.
     The fire began in a pump house on Green Lake Road near Okanogan and escaped into nearby brush and trees the evening of July 31. It grew to about 1,000 acres by 10 p.m., said Rogers.
     The fire quickly burned over a ridge and headed toward the Conconully Road end of Green Lake Road, threatening homes along the latter road, Rogers said.
     It later jumped Green Lake Road.
     Rogers said Aug. 1 that residents along Green Lake Road were advised to evacuate and some did, but people were allowed back in once immediate threat to their individual homes passed. Many spent the evening getting horses and other stock out of the area, he said.
     Barbara Maas, programs manager with the North Cascades chapter of the American Red Cross, said that office is ready to open a shelter if needed.
     No injuries were reported and no structures were lost, other than the pump house, Rogers said.
     Air attack on the fire July 31 included three water-scooping airplanes, two helicopters and a plane from Canada, he said.