Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Daily Update                                

August 18, 2024

Quick Facts

Size: 38,727 acres (no updated IR)

Start Date: June 8, 2024

Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA

Containment: 23%

Personnel: 679

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Assigned: 7 crews, 6 helicopters, 21 engines, 25 water tenders, 11 heavy equipment

CURRENT SITUATION: The Pioneer Fire continues to hold in the Boulder Creek drainage below established retardant lines. Aviation activity increased throughout the day as air attack and reconnaissance flights were flown and air resources dropped retardant and water buckets on areas of heat. Crews checked the miles of hose strategically laid throughout Stehekin. Construction continued on the contingency line to the west of the airport and along the Stehekin hydropower plant. Much of the lakeshore is in patrol status with no immediate threats from the fire at this time. Mastication of larger debris generated from the construction of the contingency line and brushing of roads continued on the south end of the fire near Mason. Resources assisted local agency personnel with initial attack of a new start.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES:  Actions to protect the community of Stehekin and prevent spread of the fire out of the Boulder Creek drainage will continue today. Firefighters will continue to hold and improve the handline tying into the retardant check line and aerial firefighting efforts will focus on cooling hot spots with bucket drops of water. Firefighters will also be patrolling in and around structures in the community and will assess any hazards such as rolling burning logs or downed powerlines that may have occurred after thunderstorms passed through the area Saturday night. East of Manson, resources continue to clean up remaining brush and vegetation following construction of contingency lines. Crews patrolling the south side of the fire will be poised and available to respond to any initial attack needs in the surrounding area if new fires result from recent lightning.

WEATHER and SMOKE: Thunderstorms occurred overnight and continued into the early hours of the morning. Today will be warm, with temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s. This afternoon will bring clouds with a 20% chance of showers or thunderstorms. Winds will be light and down lake throughout the day.

A smoke outlook for the Pioneer and Easy Fires is available at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/f79a6d6d.

EVACUATIONS: The Stehekin area remains under evacuation orders and is not open to public entry. For more information about the evacuation orders in effect around the Pioneer Fire, please visit: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/emergency-management/pages/active-emergencies

CLOSURES: Current 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 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov