Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Update for Friday, June 21, 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 31 miles northwest of Chelan.  Stehekin, Chelan and Manson are open and continue to welcome visitors. The hazardous terrain within the Wilderness requires careful planning to ensure firefighters can work safely to implement containment strategies with the greatest probability of success. Firefighters are engaged to protect structures along the lake shore as well as private and public lands. 

Fire spread remains minimal, growing just 63 acres since Wednesday, burning most actively in the Cascade Creek area at the northerly end of the fire footprint and backing down the north side of Prince Creek.  

Firefighters are establishing handline from the Fish Creek trail up a ridge to tie into a natural rock feature just shy of Moore Mountain. This indirect line is being constructed to minimize up-lake fire movement towards the North Cascades National Park boundary. 

Structure prep work has reached Flick Creek and will continue north toward Stehekin. Fire personnel are also updating a structure protection plan for Stehekin and implementing contingency lines around dwellings, structures and critical infrastructure in the community of Stehekin. 

Crews are continuing patrols around structures in Pioneer Creek. Additional crews are working in Prince Creek and Canoe Creek preparing for tactical firing operations should they be necessary. 

An indirect line down Coyote Ridge is being established with the use of heavy equipment and hand crews. This line will tie into the lake shore. An additional indirect line is being scouted and implemented from Nelson Butte to the lake shore just east of Safety Harbor Creek.   

Heavy equipment work to improve Grade Creek Road has reached mile marker 20.5 and brushing has reached mile marker 15. These improvements are needed to provide fire vehicles and equipment with a safe route to approach the fire from the southeast should the fire progress that direction. 

Thursday, aviation resources provided reconnaissance flights to confirm scouting reports, delivered 7185 pounds of cargo, 12 passengers, and 5224 gallons of water for strategic water drops. Much less water was needed due to less active fire behavior. Additional helispots are being established at Stehekin and Twenty Five Mile Creek to reduce flight distances to the fire area. 

Additional crews, equipment, and support personnel are arriving daily and being assigned to operating bases at Lucerne and Stehekin.  

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation levels have not changed since Sunday, June 16. Please visit County of Chelan, Washington for the most current information on evacuations. 

Smoke & Air Quality:  https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about health impacts and becoming Smoke Ready at smokeready.org. 

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

E-mail: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

Phone: 509-210-2926 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Washington Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/