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Start date:  July 8, 2024        Location:  31 miles northwest of Chelan, WA       Cause:  Human, under investigation  Fire size:  37,164 acres       Containment:  13%                                               Total personnel:  653

CURRENT SITUATION:  The fire has moved to the south side of Boulder Creek, progressing northeasterly and firmly entrenched in the 2010 Rainbow Bridge burn scar between Little Boulder Creek to the south and Rainbow Creek to the north. Crews will continue improving handlines around the area to prevent the fire from moving deeper into the community of Stehekin. 

TODAY'S ACTIVITIES:  Today will be a challenging fire day as the potential for periods of intense rain increases the likelihood of debris flow in the area and elevated chances of new starts due to lightning storms. With expected wind gusts of 40 mph, firefighters may be forced to take a tactical pause during those events. Utilizing information from last night’s infrared flight, fire managers are evaluating locations for contingency lines north of the Boulder Creek area in an effort to keep the fire within the Rainbow Bridge burn scar. Masticators and other heavy equipment working to reinforce containment lines along Stehekin Valley Road will continue throughout the day. 

WEATHER AND SMOKE:  A red flag warning for lightning and thunderstorms has been issued for the area. A warm and unstable air mass will be over the Pioneer Fire throughout the weekend. Weak disturbances passing through the northwest will bring on and off chances for showers and thunderstorms. The strongest and most widespread activity will be during peak heating in the afternoon and early evening hours. During this time, thunderstorms will bring the potential for scattered lightning strikes, heavy downpours of rain, small hail, and gusty outflow winds. Temperatures will remain in the 80s to low 90s with generally light winds outside erratic and brief strong thunderstorm wind gusts.

Expect good to moderate air quality across most of the communities in the Methow Valley and in the Lake Chelan area on Friday, with periods of smoke possible in the late afternoon and evening. Stehekin will likely experience moderate smoke throughout the day, while Omak and Brewster should have good 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