Single Publication

Pioneer Fire Daily Update  

August 3, 2024 

Quick Facts 

Size:  33,761 (No updated IR) 

Start Date: June 8, 2024 

Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA 

Containment: 12%  

Personnel: 668  

Cause: Human-caused, under investigation 

Resources Assigned:  13 crews,  4 helicopters,  24 engines,  28 water tenders,  20 heavy equipment 

Bear season opened August 1st. Hunters should keep themselves up to date with local forest closures by visiting the Forest Service Forest Closure Interactive Map. 

CURRENT SITUATION:  California Incident Management Team 15, led by Incident Commander Tom Clemo assumed command of operations on the Pioneer Fire at 6:00 am this morning. Yesterday in Stehekin, the fire crossed into Purple Creek and is burning in the elevations above the boat landing. Sprinklers were activated and 27 miles of hose line through town is in operation wetting around homes and infrastructure. Crews are working to slow the progression of the fire with aviation support, but the hot and dry weather remains a troubling factor.  

Crews also assisted in initial attack on the Flat Fire that ignited midday to the west of Stehekin. That fire is in steep and inaccessible terrain to boots-on-the-ground firefighters and was supported by helicopter bucket drops and scooper planes. Mop-up continued along the lakeshore from Fourmile down lake. Firefighters will hand check for hot spots on the ground around structures and extinguishing any heat that may be found. The mastication of biomass and line strengthening work to the south of the fire continues to be slow and steady work.  

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES:  The fire to the west of Stehekin will be supported by helicopter bucket drops today. Firefighters will actively engage the fire above Stehekin by implementing tactical firing operations to reduce flammable fuels. The fire is following previous fire patterns seen in the area, running up drainages and stalling progression in the high country. Washington State Fire Mobilization and firefighter crews continue structure protection on the lakeshore. Masticators and bulldozers will work to widen the contingency lines along Nelson Ridge and improve road conditions on the south side of the fire.  

WEATHER AND SMOKE:  An excessive heat advisory has been issued for Saturday and the Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for increasingly hot, dry, and unstable weather conditions through Sunday.  However, winds are not expected to be notable throughout the weekend. Smoke impacts from the Pioneer Fire will be most noticeable around Lake Chelan throughout the day, with some relief expected in the afternoon. See Current Smoke Outlook for North Central Washington (airfire.org) for information about smoke and air quality. 

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

FOREST CLOSURE: 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: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - Alerts & Closures (usda.gov). 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