Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Daily Update August 14, 2024

Quick Facts
Size: 38,480 | Start Date: June 08, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 13 percent | Personnel: 610 | Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday on the ridgeline above Boulder Creek, firefighters utilized Very Large Air Tankers and Large Air Tankers to deliver retardant to the fire. Additionally, a Skycrane helicopter was used to supplement retardant drops on the fire line by precisely dropping retardant in spots identified by firefighters on the ground. Air crews will take advantage of the change in weather and moderate to low fire activity to increase containment of the Pioneer Fire. Air assets will deliver more retardant to the ridgelines near Boulder Creek and conduct water drops to provide direct support to handcrews working at the fires edge.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Firefighters will continue hand line construction in the Boulder Creek and Rainbow Creek areas. Firefighters continue to evaluate the risks and impacts from the moisture and lightning received on August 12. Recent precipitation has moderated fire behavior and slowed spread, however, fire behavior will slowly increase as fuels dry. Rolling materials may affect the roadway between Rainbow and Little Boulder creeks. An overnight infrared flight showed scattered heat sources are still present in the upper Boulder Creek drainages.

WEATHER AND SMOKE: Breezy down lake winds will decrease in the morning, with Wednesday being the calmest weather day of the week. There is a 5% chance of showers, otherwise the day will remain mostly sunny. Temperatures will warm slightly with temperatures in the low 80s. Winds will be downlake in the morning, shifting to uplake in the early afternoon.

For smoke 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