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Looking up Lake Chelan at Pioneer Fire 6-18-24. Most of the fire is burning in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Actively burning areas to the northwest are producing small plumes of smoke. Scattered puffs of smoke rise from areas that burned earlier in the fire. In these areas, large logs and stumps can continue to burn and produce smoke for extended periods of time. This consumption will reduce the amount of fuel available for any future fires. Extinguishing these hot areas is not practical due to the hazards and difficult access.
Meadow Creek Lodge on the north shore of Lake Chelan near Meadow Creek. Pumps, hoses and sprinklers have been set up to protect the lodge from the Pioneer Fire.
Pioneer Fire map for 6-20-24, showing the fire location plus the general vicinity of Lake Chelan.
The Chelan County Emergency Management evacuation levels are shown on the map, with Level 3 (Go Now) in red, Level 2 (Be Prepared) in yellow, and Level 1 (Stay Alert) in green.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest closures are also marked on the map with red dots or hatching.
Pioneer Fire is burning on steep, rugged slopes with limited access near the north shore of Lake Chelan. Fire personnel are accessing the fire by boat and helicopter, and are working to establish fire lines and hose lays to stop the fire's spread. Aerial resources are being used to drop water on the fire and to monitor fire activity and movement.
The USFS has issued a closure order for the area around Pioneer Fire. Please see the Closures tab for more information.
Chelan County has issued evacuation orders for areas around the fire. Please check the Announcements tab for the latest information.
The National Park Service has issued a closure order for Lakeshore Trail from Stehekin to Flick Creek Campsite, and for Flick Creek Campsite. Please see the Closures tab for more information.
| Current as of | Thu, 06/20/2024 - 21:30 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 4 miles north from Prince Creek |
| Incident Commander | Brian Gales - Incident Commander Eric Riener - Deputy Incident Commander Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 13 |
| Coordinates |
48° 10' 57'' Latitude
-120° 31' 51
'' Longitude
|
| Total Personnel: | 471 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4,157 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 0% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 10/31/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Grass and Understory) Short Grass (1 foot) Timber (Litter and Understory) Fire is burning actively within the 2001 Rex Creek Fire scar. Sparse timber and stringers, moderate amounts of dead, down material and curing grasses maintain fire spread. Southwest aspect, typical Lake winds and steep topography are generating burning conditions on this fire. Aerial imagery indicates a rocky terrain, but actual fuel conditions are supporting fire spread. Historically, fires typically move down Lake, from shore to ridgeline, aided by typical diurnal and general wind direction. This fire has been actively moving up and down Lake, often backing into the wind with great efficiency. In general terms, up Lake is to the northwest, down Lake is to the southeast, and uphill to ridgelines is to the northeast. The fire has established near the ridge line at Skookum Puss Mountain. The fire is expected to progress northwest into Meadow Creek and work up drainage into the Round Lake saddle area. Additionally, the fire will continue to back into Prince Creek. Current fire behavior indicates progression both up and down Lake. |
| Significant Events | Moderate Creeping Backing Flanking |
| Planned Actions |
Based on current and forecasted weather, Branch I continues to protect critical values along the Lake Chelan shoreline. Branch II is standing up structure and community protection in Stehekin. Divisions A and Z are implementing direct and indirect fire line control features from Canoe Creek to Meadow Creek in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area to limit risk to values by checking fire growth along Lake Chelan. Tactical firing operations continue as needed to reduce risk to values. Branch V continues strategic fire line planning. Division S has finished constructing the Coyote Ridge fire line using historic control lines along the 8200 Road system, minimizing the long-term impacts on natural resources. The Roads Group continues maintenance and repair work on the 8200 Road system. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Formation of a persistent thermal belt will allow for moderate fire spread overnight with continued consumption of heavy down and dead fuels with short uphill runs. 24 hours: Warming and drying weather trend for the next 2 days. A breezy northwest wind pattern redevelops Friday. Expect overall increasing fire activity with interior pockets of activity and continued backing in Meadow and Prince Creek drainages. Additional acreage will likely include the upper secondary reaches of Meadow Creek. Active to very active fire behavior is expected. 48 hours: Continued northwest winds as a dry cold front approaches overnight and Saturday into Sunday. Continuation of warmer and drier conditions. Conditions are likely to generate active to very active fire behavior. Expect interior pockets to clean up, producing flare-ups and torching. Spotting potential will be elevated. 72 hours: Continued northwest winds Sunday as the dry cold front passes. Temperatures and humidity will moderate to seasonal average. Expect interior pockets to clean up, producing flare-ups and torching. Spotting potential will be elevated. Active fire behavior is expected. |
| Weather Concerns | The unstable atmosphere under this weakening low pressure has allowed for the development of cumulus clouds and a few showers on Thursday afternoon. Temperatures climbed into the 80s as the humidity dropped into the low to mid 20% range. The winds were terrain driven throughout the day, then late in the afternoon they became northwesterly. |
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