Single Publication

Start date: June 8, 2024  

Location: 31 miles northwest of Chelan, WA  

Containment: 14%  

Fire size: 13,492 acres  

Cause: Human caused, under investigation  

Total personnel: 768

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. 

Additional boats have arrived, bringing the total number of support craft to 13 for transporting personnel, food, and supplies for firefighters up and down lake. Another Type 2 hand crew was added to the Stehekin area, to make a total of three hand crews on-scene and ready to react if the fire moves down from Meadow Creek. Firefighters are constructing a shaded fuel break around the Ranch. 

Yesterday, the fire was active and crested the West Fork Meadow Creek and is headed towards Round Mountain. The large plume seen mid-afternoon yesterday was due to clouds and moisture near the fire area, not large fire growth. Fire in the Prince Creek and East Fork Prince Creek is very active with flanking and uphill fire runs. A reconnaissance flight was completed over Lone Fir Creek and there is very little fire activity in that area; the previously reported spot fire in that area continues to show little to no heat or smoke.  

The needed water handling equipment on Nelson Ridge was successfully flown in to finish the hose lay between the shoreline of Lake Chelan and the rock outcroppings at the northern end of the contingency line. Crews continue working to install sprinklers near Emerson Acres to provide for stronger community protection.

WEATHER AND SMOKE: The slight cooling trend will continue today but temperatures remain 5-10 degrees above the annual average. Relative humidities remain low with poor overnight recovery. The air quality outlook can be found at https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at smokeready.org. The fire marshal issued fire danger ratings and restrictions; see https://t.ly/WLBds for more information. 

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES: Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire; please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place for much of the fire area. Details and maps are available at: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure.   A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html.