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Pioneer Fire Update for Saturday, June 15, 2024

 CHELAN, Wash. — The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area in the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land.  

A public meeting is being planned for Tuesday to brief residents in Stehekin. Additional details will be shared as they become available. This meeting will not have a virtual option at this time.

Cooler temperatures limited fire spread Friday, allowing firefighters to continue point protection efforts. Tactical firing operations aided by an unmanned aerial system (UAS) reinforced handlines along Lakeshore Trail around Rex Creek, and crews will be mopping up today.

Strategic water drops are aiding suppression efforts on both the north and south flanks of the fire. Today, the aviation branch will have four Type 1 helicopters, two Type 2 helicopters, and one Type 3 helicopter to assist with water drops and delivering critical logistical supplies to crews on the ground.

Crews are continuing to make progress on structural protection efforts between Prince Creek and Canoe Creek. A second hotshot crew will be inserted today to aid protection of structures and recreation infrastructure between Meadow Creek and Moore Creek. 

Aviation resources logged 26 hours of flight time Thursday, transporting 50 passengers, 54,000 gallons of water, and 12,000 pounds of cargo.

Water tenders and graders are working to improve the Grade Creek Road (8200 Road). These road improvements will provide better access to historic containment lines that are being evaluated for long term containment strategy. 

Weather: A cold front has brought unseasonably cooler temperatures into the region. Highs today will be in the 50s, with low relative humidity in the 40 percent range. Breezy conditions will continue, bringing a slight chance of precipitation. No more than 1/10 of an inch of moisture is expected to fall on the fire.

Smoke & Air Quality: An Air Resource Advisor and smoke monitoring equipment have been ordered to increase air quality awareness, addressing smoke concerns across the region. Check current air quality conditions at fire.airnow.gov Learn more about health impacts and becoming Smoke Ready at smokeready.org 

Evacuations: A Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation order is in place for the area from Rex Creek to just north of Moore Point. A Level 2 (Be Prepared) evacuation order is in place from just north of Moore Point to, and including, Flick Creek Campground. Level 1 (Be Aware) evacuation orders are in place up lake from Flick Creek Campground to, and including, the Fourmile Creek camping area. Down lake, Level 1 evacuation orders are in place from Rex Creek to and including Canoe Creek. Please visit https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/emergency-management/pages/active-emergencies for the most current information on evacuations. 

Closures: A public safety closure order is in effect for the Lakeshore Trail from Prince Creek to up lake to the trailhead at Stehekin and portions of the Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness. Moore Point campground and the entire Lakeshore Trail are now closed. The closure includes Prince Creek, Cascade Creek, and Moore Point boat-in campgrounds. An interactive map of the closure area can be found at https://arcg.is/0Wbivn. 

SAFETY: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. This applies to all aviation types, including drones. Recreational boaters are asked to maintain space from aircraft utilizing Lake Chelan for water collection. Recreationists are asked to follow the forest closure orders for their safety and the safety of firefighters. An interactive map of the closure area can be found at https://arcg.is/0Wbivn. 

To receive fire updates via email, sign up at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/PndMhvq  

Public information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760893080

E-mail: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov 

Phone: 509-210-2926 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (7 days a week)

Washington Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/