Single Publication

Pioneer Fire

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which areas are closed and which are open? 

All current closure orders are posted to the North Cascades National Park and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest webpages. Please refer to these webpages for the most up to date closure information.

• nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fire-closures.htm
• fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices

How long will National Park Service and Forest Service land near the Pioneer Fire be closed? Fire weakened trees, ash pits, rock fall and erosion will be problematic for months and possibly years to come. The trail and area closures in place may be long term and extend through the winter months. Impacts from fire on the landscape, such as erosion, will likely worsen as the weather becomes wetter in the fall and winter.

Is Stehekin open to visitors?

The community is currently open to visitors; however, services may be limited or altered. Visitors are encouraged to verify anticipated services prior to traveling to Stehekin.

What can visitors expect to see from the Pioneer Fire?

The Pioneer Fire is still an active wildfire. Firefighters and crews continue to work in the area, take caution when recreating.

Steep, inaccessible terrain and overhead hazards including snags and potential for rolling debris limit firefighters’ ability to access parts of the fire. Resources have constructed control line in several areas of the fire where safe to do so. Natural features are being used to limit fire spread in many locations where terrain and hazards limited firefighters’ ability to engage. 

The Pioneer Fire will be on the landscape until there is a significant change in the weather pattern like multiple consecutive days of wetting rain that typically signify the wind down of fire season. Visitors to the area will continue to see smoke interior to the fire as heavy fuels continue to burn and smolder. Firefighters are continuing to patrol the fire on the ground and by air to ensure that any heat stays within the current fire footprint.

When recreating in a burned area:

• LOOK UP for upslope burned areas, snags, and exposed rocks that may fall. 
• LOOK DOWN for debris from falling rocks, erosion – especially at road and trail edges, and ash pits (which may form from root pockets or stumps of burned trees). 
• LOOK AROUND Be situationally aware. Check the weather before you travel, including at higher elevations. Wind, rain, ice and snow can increase the risk of tree fall, rock fall, slides and other hazards. Flash floods and landslide risks are elevated below severely burned areas. 
• LOOK BELOW the surface of standing water and moving water for floating logs, submerged trees and other debris, which can strike or entangle swimmers and boaters and damage other infrastructure. 

For more information: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-pioneer