Incidents All News

CHELAN, Wash. — A public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday June 18 at the North Cascades National Park Golden West Visitor Center near Stehekin. This meeting will not have a virtual option.The Pioneer Fire is now approximately 3.5 miles southeast of the park boundary and 8 to 10 miles from Stehekin. There is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.

Pioneer Fire Update for Saturday, June 15, 2024 CHELAN, Wash. — The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area in the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land.  A public meeting is being planned for Tuesday to brief residents in Stehekin. Additional details will be shared as they become available. This meeting will not have a virtual option at this time.

Pioneer Fire Update Friday, June 14, 2024CHELAN, Wash. - Firefighters continue to build line and protect structures while fire managers develop a longer-term strategy for combating the Pioneer Fire, which is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area in the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land. 

Pioneer Fire UpdateThursday, June 13, 2024CHELAN, Wash. – The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area in the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land. Public and firefighter safety are the number one priority for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington DNR, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, and Northwest Incident Management Team 13.

Pioneer Fire UpdateWednesday, June 12, 2024Chelan, Washington. – Under the leadership of Incident Commander Brian Gales, Northwest Incident Management Team 13 (NWIMT13) assumed command of the Pioneer Fire at 6:00 A.M. today. NWIMT 13 is working closely with stakeholders to protect identified values at risk (private structures and National Forest assets) from negative impacts from the Pioneer Fire.  

Firefighters and aircraft continue their efforts on the Pioneer Fire, now estimated at 600 acres. The fire started on Saturday June 8 and is situated in steep and remote terrain approximately 31 miles northwest of Chelan, Washington, near the north shore of Lake Chelan. The fire's remote location and steep terrain pose unique challenges to containment efforts and logistics. Crews and supplies are accessing this remote part of Lake Chelan by boat.Five crews, comprising approximately 100 firefighters, are engaged on the fire.