Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Daily Update  

August 2, 2024 

Quick Facts 

Size:  33,761 (No updated IR) 

Start Date: June 8, 2024 

Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA 

Containment: 12%  

Personnel: 644  

Cause: Human-caused, under investigation 

Resources Assigned:  11 crews,  4 helicopters,  26 engines,  28 water tenders,  17 heavy equipment 

Northwest Team 3 is preparing to transition management of the Pioneer and Easy Fires to California Team 15 on Saturday at 6 AM.  The incoming team was briefed yesterday on the current situation and operational objectives and today will “shadow” Team 3 to ensure a smooth transition. 

CURRENT SITUATION:  The fire was active on the southern edge of Hazard Creek, where a log holding heat rolled into a small side drainage and ignited unburned fuels in an area of about 10 acres.  Helicopters water drops and scooper planes were used to hold the fire in place. Hot, dry conditions provoked smoldering areas in the Upper Fish Creek and Fourmile drainages to become active and send up a column of smoke.  Increase in fire activity is expected on the north flank of the fire with the hot and dry weather anticipated for the next few days  

In Stehekin, crews continue to test hoselays and sprinklers along the community protection line and around homes. Structure preparation and community protection lines are being expanded up valley. On the south flank of the fire, heavy equipment continued to work on the shaded fuelbreak on Cooper Ridge. Crews chipped trees removed from the shaded fuel break and hauled it offsite. Road work in Gold Creek and Black Canyon continues to mitigate impacts from heavy equipment use and to ensure ingress and egress for firefighters.  

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES:  Crews will continue to mop-up and patrol along the lakeshore from Fourmile Creek down lake and conduct strategic burning operations if needed north of Fourmile Creek to protect structures along the lakeshore.  Aviation resources will continue to support firefighters through crew transport and water drops to slow the fire’s progression north.  In Stehekin, firefighters will continue with structure protection measures including extending community protection line up valley past the Rainbow Falls area.  An additional Interagency Hot Shot crew arrived yesterday to assist with suppression activities in Stehekin and burn operations. 

WEATHER AND SMOKE: Temperatures reached 101 degrees in Stehekin yesterday. The Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for increasingly hot, dry, and unstable weather conditions Friday through Sunday.  There is a 20% chance of thunderstorms later this afternoon or in the early evening. An Excessive Heat Watch has also been issued for Friday and Saturday. See Current Smoke Outlook for North Central Washington (airfire.org) for information about smoke and air quality. 

EVACUATIONS: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please contact Chelan County Emergency Management or visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information. 

FOREST CLOSURE: Closures for the North Cascades National Park: https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm 

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place for much of the fire area: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - Alerts & Closures (usda.gov). Campfires are prohibited. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under the TFR. 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-pioneer  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760893080  

Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM 

Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov