Single Publication

The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area on the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan. The communities of Stehekin, Chelan, and Manson are open and continue to welcome visitors, with limited smoke and fire activity. With increased traffic over the holiday week, please take extra caution around heavy equipment and drive slowly.

Pioneer Fire managers are using a full suppression firefighting strategy to protect private property, public infrastructure, and natural and recreation resources, while minimizing risks to responders and the public. Due to extreme terrain, they are using indirect attack, creating control lines away from the fire’s edge, and point zone protection, which includes setting up pumps, hoses, and sprinklersto safeguard structures.

Yesterday, fire managers used an unmanned aircraft aerial system (UAS) to assess the fire for future strategic suppression opportunities. In Stehekin, crews implemented the structure protection plan by constructing new handline and plumbing it from Boulder Creek north to Rainbow Creek to minimize fire impacts. Today, firefighters and aerial resources will continue working to cool hotspots as they are identified and accessible.  

A public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, July 1, at the Golden West Visitor Center in Stehekin, Wash. This meeting will not have a virtual option.

WEATHER: Expect cooler temperatures with down-lake winds gusting up to 30 mph and a slight chance of rain. The air quality outlook is at https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at smokeready.org.

SAFETY: Recreational boaters are asked to maintain a safe distance from helicopters dipping into Lake Chelan for water collection. Always check current fire restrictions and never leave a campfire unattended.

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation levels have been downgraded as of June 28. Visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for the most up-to-date information.

CLOSURES: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest issued closures in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness and surrounding areas. Details, including maps, are available at: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure