Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Update for July 22, 2024  

Incident Commander Lonnie Click

 Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 3 

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

Quick Facts

Size: 30,352 acres

Start Date: June 8, 2024

Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA

Containment: 14%

Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

Personnel: 776

Resources Assigned: 11 crews, 4 helicopters, 25 engines, 28 water tenders, 18 heavy equipment

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

CURRENT SITUATION:  Firefighters and equipment from State Fire Assistance for Stehekin are arriving today.  They will be implementing Structure Protection Plans and further preparing structures and infrastructure for increased fire resilience. The fire continues to advance toward Flick Creek on the northern flank and has been active in the upper drainages of Fish Creek and Prince Creek on the eastern edge of the fire. Fire growth is expected today with the predicted temperatures, humidity and gusty winds. On the south end of the fire, firefighters continue to be on the lookout for fire activity in the Lone Fir drainage, which has seen little movement in recent days.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES:  The contingency lines between the fire and Manson along Coyote Ridge and Nelson Ridge have been completed and hose lays are installed. Testing of those hose-lays and line improvements will continue today.  Work along Cooper Ridge to prepare it as an indirect fireline is nearing completion. A group of boats is moving firefighters and equipment to remote areas along the lake edge. A fire module with a UAS (drone) is working along the northern part of the fire to detect hot spots along the edge and complete strategic firing operations when needed for protection of cabins and infrastructure. Helicopters will continue to support firefighting efforts.

WEATHER:  An approaching cold front is expected to shift winds to the west-northwest this afternoon.  Gusts approaching 25 miles per hour and humidity dropping to around 25% prompted a Red Flag Warning for today. Active fire behavior, such as torching and possible crown fire runs, is expected due to the critical weather situation. Some smoke columns may be visible.

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

FOREST CLOSURE: 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: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. 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 AM to 8 PM

Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov