Single Publication

Pioneer and Easy Fires Update for July 19, 2024  

Incident Commander Jeff Dimke

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 12

541-861-5808, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov 

Over 800 lighting strikes in Oregon and Washington the night of July 17 led to numerous new fires. National Preparedness Level 5 was declared yesterday, meaning many firefighting resources are committed and the potential for new starts is high. NW Team 12 has taken command of the Easy Fire (20 air miles west of Mazama) and will manage both fires. Fire managers are requesting more firefighting resources, as they become available, to bolster both incidents. NW Team 3 arrives today to inbrief on both fires.

Pioneer Fire Size: 26, 137 acres | Cause: Human-caused | Containment: 14% | Total personnel: 782

Firefighters worked across the Stehekin Valley to strengthen, improve, and extend firelines while increasing hose lays to support community protection. Just north of Moore Point, firefighters constructed direct fireline to the lake’s edge and executed a successful firing operation to secure firelines. Helicopters dropped 110,000 gallons of water in this area yesterday to support firefighters securing the ground near Hunts Creek. Helicopters will be working water buckets today to cool and slow the fires as they support firefighters on the ground. If necessary, firefighters are prepared to initiate firing operations to protect values at risk, including homes and infrastructure. Resources from this fire remain available to assist with initial attack.

Easy Fire Size: 107 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 35

Dry lightning storms that moved through the Methow Valley started the Easy Fire. The Pioneer Fire dispatched aviation resources as part of the aggressive initial attack on this new fire, which was experiencing explosive fire growth. Crews remained on the fire overnight but weeks of extreme temperatures, record dry conditions, and dangerous terrain combined with no road access hampered initial response efforts. As of yesterday, the fire had not crossed the Skagit-Okanogan county line ridge. Firefighters are scouting the mountainous terrain to identify strategies using natural barriers and other suppression tactics to contain the fire. 

Safety and Closures: The National Park Service-North Cascades has expanded their list of closures: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fire-closures.htm. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. There are two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in place over the fires: https://tinyurl.com/wduxpesz (Pioneer) and https://tinyurl.com/mtxej9zj (Easy). Drone activity is prohibited within the TFRs.

Evacuations: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information. There are no evacuations in place for the Easy Fire though portions of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed.

Weather and Smoke: A Heat Advisory remains in place. Friday's forecast calls for hot temperatures, sunny skies and light winds with low relative humidity. Smoke should clear up some in the afternoon. Extended, near record-breaking heat, continues to dry fuels and contributes to heightened fire potential. The air quality outlook can be found at: https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/. The fire marshal issued fire danger ratings and restrictions: https://t.ly/WLBds.