Single Publication

The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area on the Chelan Ranger District of the 

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan. The communities of Stehekin, Chelan, and Manson continue to welcome visitors, with limited smoke and minimal fire activity expected for the coming holiday. Pioneer Fire managers are using a full-suppression firefighting strategy to protect private property, infrastructure, and resources, while minimizing risks to responders and the public. 

Firefighters continued work yesterday in the Stehekin valley along the Stehekin road. They focused on clearing vegetation and laying hose in areas along the road and behind private property. The rappel crew in Meadow Creek drainage near the north edge of the fire took advantage of the moderate fire behavior yesterday. They continued constructing hand line and improving a helicopter landing area near the fire’s edge. Firefighters continued to clear vegetation from Prince Creek yesterday near the south edge of the fire. They also worked in that area on the surrounding trail system, improving those lines as potential holding features. Down lake, crews made progress with the completion of contingency along Nelson Butte and Coyote Ridge. Firefighters also strengthened contingency lines with road improvements by removing brush and potentially hazardous trees, and grading the road. 

Today, firefighters in the Stehekin valley will continue laying hose and reopening hand line to protect homes and natural and recreation resources. The rappel crew will continue work today in the Meadow Creek drainage. Down lake, firefighters will further improve alternate and contingency hand and dozer lines. Helicopters assigned to the fire will continue dropping water to cool hot spots, especially in the Prince Creek drainage. 

WEATHER: Expect warmer temperatures and moderate humidity today, with a warming and drying trend toward the end of the week. Down lake winds will continue, with gusts on ridge tops between 20 to 30 mph. The changing weather conditions could prompt increased fire behavior and spread. The air quality outlook is at https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at smokeready.org. 

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation levels have not changed. Visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information. 

CLOSURE: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure in place for much of the fire area. Details and maps are available at: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. Many recreation sites remain open and accessible.