Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Daily Update August 13, 2024

Quick Facts

Size: 38,420 Start Date: June 11, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 13 percent Personnel: 623 Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

CURRENT SITUATION: Favorable, over-night weather conditions decreased fire activity with fire behavior limited to smoldering and creeping. Fire spread in the Boulder Creek drainage has been slowed. Isolated residual heat sources in Prince Creek and Fish Creek areas are confined to extremely steep headwater slopes. The fire area will benefit from the rain for a short period before dry and hot conditions return to the fire area and Lake Chelan's strong diurnal winds and steep topography challenge suppression actions. Crews and aviation resources will respond to all new fires with an aggressive initial attack strategy. Seven new fires have been identified and contained in the local area over the last 48- hours.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Crews continue to prepare contingency fire lines to be used in the rare chance the southern portion of the fire becomes active to prevent it from advancing southeast towards the community of Manson. Resources will implement structure protection plans for the community of Stehekin. Ground and aviation resources continue to take advantage of favorable weather conditions to construct direct fireline to contain the northern flank adjacent to the Boulder Creek drainage. Fire operations officials continue to evaluate the impacts from the precipitation and lightning that was received over the fire area and respond as necessary.

WEATHER AND SMOKE: The breezy down lake winds continued last night, with a quiet day expected today. A slight chance of thunderstorms is possible in the afternoon, but the chance remains small. Temperatures will continue to cool with high temperatures returning to the upper 70s to lower 80s with drier conditions. Winds will remain breezy today coming from the northwest with gusts of 20 to 25 mph possible in the late afternoon and evening hours.

For smoke report please see the 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.

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-pioneer  

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