Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Update for July 18, 2024  

Incident Commander Jeff Dimke

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 12

541-861-5808, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts

Size: 25,688                          

Start Date: June 8, 2024                     

Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA

Containment: 14%              

Personnel: 783                                   

Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

Resources Assigned: 14 crews, 8 helicopters, 21 engines, 24 water tenders, 19 heavy equipment

There will be a Stehekin community meeting tonight at 6 PM at the Golden West Visitor Center.

The Pioneer Fire is burning within a mountainous and remote area on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Lake Chelan. Firefighters are using a full suppression response in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness to protect values at risk, life, and property, with firefighter and public safety as the primary objective. The communities of Chelan, Manson, and Stehekin are open and continue to welcome visitors. 

Operations: Firefighters completed structural assessments near Stehekin as well as expanding and strengthening handline and hose lays near the Stehekin Valley Ranch. With the extensive preparation around town nearly finalized, firefighters and fire engines are prepared to protect the community of Stehekin in the event fire approaches. Heavy helicopters will be working water bucket drops today, limiting fire spread across Hunts Creek where firefighters are working on the ground to protect structures and infrastructure.

The Uncrewed Aerial System crew at Graham Harbor will continue to closely watch the Lone Fir drainage, using an infrared camera to identify any residual heat sources in the timber fingers around Canoe and Lone Fir Creeks that could reignite. Firefighters with heavy equipment are making good progress improving the dozer line southward from Parrish Peak toward Cooper Corral Spring. Resources from the Pioneer Fire continue to be available to assist with initial attack fires in the area.

Safety and Closures: The National Park Service-North Cascades has expanded their list of closures: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fire-closures.htm. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place for much of the fire area: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Drone activity is prohibited under the TFR, as helicopters cannot fly with unauthorized drones present.

Evacuations:  Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.

Weather and Smoke: A heat advisory remains in effect with today having clear skies, increased temperatures and continuing low relative humidity. The air quality up lake will be Unhealthy-to-Very Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups today, especially in the morning before clearing occurs. The air quality outlook can be found at: https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/. The fire marshal issued fire danger ratings and restrictions: https://t.ly/WLBds