Crews Expand Structure Protection Along North Shore to Stehekin

Update from June 26, 2024

information released; inciweb photo by Andrew Breckenridge from fire camp at Lucerne

The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area on the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan. The communities of Stehekin, Chelan, and Manson are open and continue to welcome visitors.

The Pioneer Fire is a full suppression fire. Fire managers are using strategies and tactics with the highest likelihood of success, while mitigating risks to responders and the public. Extreme terrain prevents direct attack especially on the east edge of the fire. Indirect lines are being identified and established that reduce risk to responders while protecting private and federal infrastructure and recreational and environmental resources.

Near Stehekin, crews wrapped a bridge with protective sheeting. Firefighters are working north toward Rainbow Falls opening fire lines constructed in previous incidents, connected to the road. They are also laying hoses near cabins.

At the north edge of the fire near Meadow Creek, crews continue working to protect cabins and recreation assets. They are removing brush near structures and maintaining pumps and sprinklers. At the south edge of the fire near Prince Creek, a hotshot crew is protecting structures and actively monitoring fire spread.

Crews near Nelson Butte are re-opening old fire lines that will connect to the lake, near Safety Harbor. Crews are also finishing improvements on the Coyote Ridge fireline as a contingency.

Crews and air resources from the Pioneer Fire quickly responded to a new, small fire at Grand Harbor Campground. They contained it yesterday and will continue to monitor and mop it up today. It is dry early in the season this year; please take extra care to fully extinguish any campfires.

Weather:

A strong cold front is on track to come through this afternoon. Expect gusty winds up to 25 mph along the lakeshore and 35 mph on ridgetops. The cold front will bring a moving line of showers and thunderstorms across the whole lake, producing moderate to heavy rainfall. The expected rainfall will not be sufficient to extinguish the fire but should slow fire spread and limit fire activity today.

Safety:

More resources and equipment are working within the Grade Creek Road (8200) system. Motorists should expect 30-minute delays.

Smoke & Air Quality:

Check current air quality conditions at https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about health impacts and becoming Smoke Ready at smokeready.org.

Evacuations:

Evacuation levels have not changed since Sunday, June 16. Please visit County of Chelan, Washington for the most current information on evacuations.