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

CURRENT SITUATION: Fire activity increased yesterday as thunderstorms in the area compounded up lake winds driving the fire. Overnight infrared flight indicates the fire has moved past Little Boulder Creek, into Boulder Creek proper above Stehekin toward Rainbow Creek. Fire managers are evaluating a series of tactics to keep the fire within the 2010 Rainbow Bridge burn scar using Rainbow Creek to halt the northern progression. 

Crews assigned to the incident responded to three new lightning-caused fires predominantly in the Fox Peak area, on both sides of the peak, southeast of the Pioneer Fire. Initial attack crews will continue to try and suppress all new fires.

TODAY'S ACTIVITIES:  Fire managers continue to evaluate handline placement on the ridgetop between Rainbow and Boulder Creek to stop further encroachment into Stehekin within the 2010 Rainbow Bridge burn scar. Masticators and other heavy equipment working to reinforce containment lines along Stehekin Valley Road will continue throughout the day as crews work to keep the fire north of the road.  

WEATHER AND SMOKE:  Thunderstorms will continue to be a significant threat today. Thunderstorm coverage will be slightly less than on Friday but the storms that form will produce lightning, brief heavy rain, and gusty outflow winds. Thunderstorm chances will further decrease on Sunday with a 20 percent chance of observing lightning from any given location in the incident area. Relative humidity will increase and temperatures will decrease each day from Saturday to Monday.

The Stehekin Valley continues to be impacted by smoke from the Pioneer and Easy fires, with air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups most of the day. The full smoke report is available:  https://outlooks.airfire.org/ara-v6/published//North%20Central%20Washington/eng/f79a6d6d_20240810151953outlook.pdf

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