Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Update for July 16, 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 

Size: 20,348                          

Start Date: June 8, 2024                     

Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA

Containment: 14%              

Personnel: 794                                   

Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

Resources Assigned: 14 crews, 9 helicopters, 18 engines, 22 water tenders, 18 heavy equipment

There will be a Manson community meeting on Wednesday, July 17th at 5:30 PM at the Manson High School. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Pioneer Fire Information Facebook page. Please submit questions in advance to 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov or via Facebook Messenger. 

There will be a Stehekin community meeting on Thursday, July 18th at 6 PM at the Golden West Visitor Center.

The Pioneer Fire is burning within a mountainous and remote area on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Lake Chelan. Firefighters are using a full suppression response in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness to protect values at risk, life, and property, with firefighter and public safety as the primary objective. The communities of Chelan, Manson, and Stehekin are open and continue to welcome visitors. 

Operations: Firefighters completed a hose lay system around Stehekin Valley Ranch yesterday and engaged in small-scale firing operations south of Moore Point to protect structures and infrastructure in the area. Crews improved sprinkler systems around private property along the lakeshore and structure protection assessments continued in Manson. An Uncrewed Aerial System with thermal sensors flew in the area of Lone Fir and detected no heat. Heavy helicopters dropped multiple buckets of water on the fire and additional helicopters flew in 2,000 lbs of cargo including equipment and provisions to firefighters on the line.

Today, firefighters are staffing five Washington Department of Natural Resources engines in Stehekin and additional fuels reduction will continue along roads. Interagency Hotshot Crews will initiate limited point protection firing operations as needed, bringing fire up-lake from the foot of Round Mountain. Equipment continues to undertake the extensive contingency line construction along Cooper Ridge. Firefighters are expected to finish hand line from Cooper Ridge down to Lake Chelan. New resources are arriving daily to replace those timing out including handcrews, falling modules, and single resource personnel. 

Safety and Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place for much of the fire area. Details and maps are available at: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire was expanded yesterday: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Drone activity is prohibited under the TFR, as helicopters cannot fly with unauthorized drones present.

Evacuations: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.

Weather and Smoke: The high-pressure ridge, which is bringing above-average temperatures and low humidity, will move out of the area today. Winds will transition to a southeast/southwesterly flow, with a 20% chance of dry lightning on Wednesday. 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.