Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Daily Update

August 15, 2024

Quick Facts

Size:  38,708 | Start Date: June 08, 2024    |    Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA

Containment: 18 percent | Personnel: 635 | Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 has returned to the Pioneer Fire 

CURRENT SITUATION:  Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 will shadow California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 today and take command of the Pioneer, Easy, and Flat Creek Fires at 6 am on Friday morning. Shadowing helps with a smooth transition from one team to another with the transfer of the current strategic situation that has taken place over the team’s tenure. The Level 3 Evacuations remain in place for the entire Stehekin Valley, at the north end of Lake Chelan, affecting 470 residential and commercial properties. 

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Initial attack crews and aviation resources will respond to all new fires with an aggressive initial attack strategy. Fire activity in the Boulder Creek area will increase with upslope fire spread toward Butte and Rennie creeks. Backing fire may spread into Rainbow Creek due to spotting. Continued isolated activity from scattered heat sources continue in the tributaries and forks of Little Boulder, Purple, Four Mile, and Fish creeks. Fire Crews continue to add structure protection measures around the community of Stehekin, patrol the fire area and look for opportunities to strengthen and increase containment of the Pioneer Fire. 

WEATHER AND SMOKE: Today the threat of showers and thunderstorms will be near 20 percent, increasing to 40 percent on Friday. Temperature will remain mild, topping out in the 70’s to 80’s each afternoon with humidity levels near 30 precent. Winds will be light in the afternoon driven by up lake and slope then switch to down slope, downlake in the evening hours with gusts up to 15 mph.

For smoke report: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/f79a6d6d.

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. 

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