Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Update for July 23, 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: 30,667 acres  
Start Date: June 8, 2024  
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA  
Containment: 14%  
Personnel: 732  
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation  
Resources Assigned: 12 crews, 7 helicopters, 27 engines, 28 water tenders, 18 heavy equipment

There will be a community meeting in Stehekin Tuesday, 5 PM at the Golden West Visitor Center. There will also be a community meeting in Manson, 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 have arrived in Stehekin to implement structure protection plans. While the cold front that moved through the region Monday bringing lower humidities and gusty down-lake winds, fire growth was minimal. Pockets of heat remain and could flare up over the coming days within the East Fork of Prince Creek drainage, in Fish Creek drainage, and around Cub Lake. On the south end of the fire, firefighters are monitoring for hot spots in the Lone Fir drainage and along the improved firelines on Nelson Ridge and Coyote Ridge. Firefighters from the Pioneer Fire also provided initial attack response for additional new wildfires starts in the area on Monday.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Fire personnel in Stehekin will be working with the state mobilization strike team to improve home hardening and defensible space around   structures and infrastructure. Firefighters on the north end of the fire will be constructing a ‘check’ line just south of Flick Creek that will tie into natural rocky features. The check line will help delay fire progression along the lakeshore, however due to heavy downed fuels, inaccessible terrain further upslope, this delaying tactic is not expected to completely stop fire progression. Firefighters are also monitoring and mopping up hot spots along the lakeshore.  Crews will continue improvement of the indirect firelines along Cooper Ridge and Antilon Ridge north of Manson.  The Lone Fir drainage continues to be monitored for hot spots.

WEATHER:  After the cold front passage yesterday, temperatures will be cooler but winds over the fire will remain gusty.  A Red Flag Warning continues for today due to expected winds and low humidities.  Active fire behavior and interior flare-ups with intense heat are 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.

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