Pioneer Fire Grows to Nearly 3,500 Acres

Update for Sunday, June 16, 2024

information released, photo by Porter DeVere – view from the lake

The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area in the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land.

In coordination with fire managers, Chelan County Emergency Management has extended the Level 3 (Go Now) just north of Moore Point down lake to Canoe Creek. A Level 2 (Be Prepared) evacuation order has been issued down lake from Canoe Creek to Lone Fir Creek. A Level 1 (Be Aware) order is in place from Lone Fir Creek down lake to Safety Harbor. Evacuation levels up lake have not changed.

Please visit County of Chelan, Washington  for the most current information on evacuations.

Suppression management has been divided into two branches, Branch I, which encompasses operations and planning up lake from Point No Point on Lake Chelan to Flick Creek. Branch II is overseeing operations and planning down lake, which currently consists of road work and scouting potential control lines off upper Grade Creek road (8200).

Up lake in Branch I, the fire is now established in Meadow Creek, but fire movement is expected to be minimal near Round Lake. Today, structure protection work will continue between Meadow Creek and Moore Point with structure prep to protect private and federal infrastructure. A new structure protection division will begin assessments north of Moore Point to the North Cascades National Park boundary.

The fire also progressed south through Rex Creek into Rattlesnake Creek, and potentially spotted into Prince Creek. Aviation focused efforts in Rattlesnake Creek to support ongoing infrastructure protection work in Prince Creek.

Aerial resources will continue to limit fire spread as the fire progresses down lake. Down lake in Branch II, two graders are working to improve Grade Creek Road (8200 Road) from the Cooper Ridge Road (8020 Road) across Coyote Ridge to South Navarre and Nelson Butte to provide a safe route for fire vehicles and equipment to access the south flank of Branch II.

Summer Blossom is currently blocked by snowdrifts. Motorists should also be alert to water tenders traveling back and forth from Antilon Lake.

A public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the North Cascades National Park Golden West Visitor Center in Stehekin, Wash. This meeting will not have a virtual option.

Smoke & Air Quality:

Saturday, strong winds blew the smoke column over Sawtooth Ridge, impacting communities from the Gold Creek area along Route 153 south to Methow and Pateros. Light smoke was also visible along Lake Chelan in the immediate vicinity of the fire. As the fire progresses, increased smoke impacts are expected along the lake. Check current air quality conditions at fire.airnow.gov. Learn more about health impacts and becoming Smoke Ready at smokeready.org.

Evacuations:

Evacuation levels up lake have not changed. A Level 2 (Be Prepared) evacuation order is in place from just north of Moore Point to, and including, Flick Creek Campground. On the down lake side, a Level 2 (Be Prepared) evacuation order has been issued from Canoe Creek down lake to Lone Fir Creek. A Level 1 (Be Aware) evacuation order is in place up lake from Flick Creek Campground to, and including, the Fourmile Creek camping area.

Closures:

A public safety closure order is in effect for the Lakeshore Trail from Prince Creek uplake to the trailhead at Stehekin and portions of the Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness. Moore Point campground and the entire Lakeshore Trail are now closed. The closure includes Prince Creek, Cascade Creek, and Moore Point boat-in campgrounds. An interactive map of the closure area can be found at https://arcg.is/0Wbivn. A road closure of the Grade Creek (8200) road is pending due to heavy equipment operations.

Safety:

Recreational boaters are asked to maintain space from aircraft utilizing Lake Chelan for water collection. Recreationists are asked to follow the forest closure orders for their safety and the safety of firefighters.