Pioneer Fire Info - Lake Chelan

[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Daily Update July 30, 2024
Quick Facts
Size: 33,277 acres*
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 15%
Personnel: 732
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Resources Assigned: 11 crews, 4 helicopters, 29 engines, 27 water tenders, 17 heavy equipment
*No updated infrared mapping due to weather conditions.
There will be a community meeting in Manson Wednesday, 5:30 PM at the Manson High School. The meeting will be streamed live on the Pioneer Fire Information Facebook page. Please submit questions in advance to 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov or via Facebook Messenger.
CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday cooler, damper, weather moderated fire activity. Firefighters are taking advantage of reduced fire activity to continue fireline preparations and other community protection measures along the lakeshore and in Stehekin. Helicopters dropped water to cool down scattered hot spots and slow fire spread around Hazard Creek. Crews continued to mop up and patrol around structures along the lakeshore in the Fourmile Creek. In Stehekin the Structure Protection Group continued improvement work by widening fireline. There was minimal fire activity in the Prince Creek area. South of the fire, road work to improve access for emergency response vehicles continued. There were no new fire starts, however crews remain ready to respond when needed.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Aircraft will continue to work the ridgeline south of Hazard Creek, dropping water to limit fire spread. Firefighters will continue to protect structures along the lakeshore, mopping up and patrolling to ensure no heat remains where firing operations were conducted. In the Stehekin area, firefighters will continue to widen and improve the community protection lines. At the southwestern fire edge, firefighters will continue to monitor the Lone Fir drainage for any fire activity and will be available for initial attack in the event any new fires start. Crews will continue mastication and road work and other contingency line preparations along Cooper Ridge and other areas west of Manson.
WEATHER AND SMOKE: Today high temperatures will be in the mid-70s. Good RH (relative humidity) recovery overnight helped to increase the moisture in the small forest fuels (pine needles, leaves, and small twigs), which will limit potential for fire activity and spread, however larger fuels remain very dry. A warming and drying trend starts tomorrow with significantly warmer temperatures anticipated by the end of the week. 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 visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.
FOREST CLOSURE: Current 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.../wases-pioneer
Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM
Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Daily Update July 29, 2024
Quick Facts
Size: 33,277 acres*
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 15%
Personnel: 698
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Resources Assigned: 10 crews, 4 helicopters, 28 engines, 27 water tenders, 17 heavy equipment
*Acreage estimate is pending updated infrared mapping.
CURRENT SITUATION: There was minimal fire spread along the lakeshore beyond Fourmile Creek yesterday, however, the fire was active further up the drainage, crossing into Hazard Creek. Along the lakeshore, crews have been successful protecting structures as the fire spreads northward. They continued to mop up and patrol yesterday while preparing for additional strategic firing that may be needed to protect homes and other values at risk. Firefighters worked to widen the fireline and remove vegetation around power poles in the Boulder Creek area of Stehekin Valley. Sawyers continued felling trees that pose a danger to firefighters working in the area near Rainbow Bridge and Boulder Creek in preparation for strategic firing actions.
Lone Fir Creek continues to not show any heat along the southern flank of the fire. Crews will continue to monitor the area for any potential fire activity. Mastication and other vegetation removal to clear the contingency line on Nelson Ridge continued. Road improvements in Black Canyon, Gold Creek, and near Antilon Lake also continued.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Fire spread is expected to moderate today with cooler temperatures and higher humidity in the fire area. Along the lakeshore, crews will continue to mop up and patrol around structures and will conduct strategic firing where necessary to protect homes. Firefighters will continue to work further into Stehekin Valley, removing vegetation to widen and improve the fireline, and felling snags or trees that pose a danger to firefighters working in the area. A specialized wildland fire module that provides additional capabilities has been deployed to Stehekin to support strategic firing operations. Crews will continue mastication and other contingency line work, along with road preparations in the Oss Peak, Gold Creek, and Antilon Lake area.
WEATHER AND SMOKE: Cooler weather is expected today with widespread clouds and a chance of rain. Hot and dry conditions will return by the end of the week and persist into next week. An air quality alert remains in effect for Chelan County. See Current Smoke Outlook for North Central Washington (airfire.org) for more information about smoke and air quality.
EVACUATIONS: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.
FOREST CLOSURE: Current 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.../wases-pioneer
Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM
Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

[pasayten]

7/29/2024 Information Maps

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[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Evacuation Level Updates: Along with the new Level 3 from just north of Moore Point through Stehekin, evacuation levels changed down lake as well today. They are being downgraded.

Moore Point to Safety Harbor has been downgraded to a Level 2. Safety Harbor to Camas Creek has also been downgraded to a Level 1 fire advisory. And the Level 1 fire advisory has been lifted from Camas Creek to Mitchell Creek.

Keep up on evacuation levels in Chelan County at https://chelangis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ ... 6b25434e03

[pasayten]

Quick Facts for July 28, 2024:

#PioneerFire2024
• 33,277
• 10% contained
• Cause: Under investigation
• 11 crews, 4 helicopters, 24 engines, 27 water tenders, 18 heavy equipment


The Pioneer Fire crossed Fourmile drainage yesterday and progressed further north. This fire movement has prompted @Chelan County Emergency Management to issue a Level 3 (Go Now) notice for Stehekin starting July 28 at 8am. For more details about the notice and transport information see https://www.facebook.com/CCSOEM/posts/p ... PUJTBzqTTl
Firefighters continue to work on improving fireline and structure protection preparations, setting up sprinklers and other measures to protect the community of Stehekin.

[pasayten]

7/28/2024 Information Maps

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[pasayten]

Chelan County Emergency Management

Pioneer Fire Update: Level 3 evacuation notice (Get out now!) effective 8 a.m. Sunday, July 28, for Stehekin

Chelan County EM has issued a Level 3 evacuation notice for the community of Stehekin. The Level 3 applies to the area from just north of Moore Point through the Stehekin Valley, including the Stehekin landing and west to High Bridge.
It is effective beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 28.
A Level 3 (get out now!) alerts residents to go now and evacuate immediately. A wildfire in the area poses an immediate threat to the life and safety of people in the area.
For residents and property owners, we strongly advise you leave Stehekin. In an emerging situation, we cannot guarantee that emergency responders will be able to reach you if you need help.
Evacuee transport down lake is available daily at 10:40 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (This is an update.) We will update departure times if necessary. Shuttle service to the landing will run one hour before boat departure times.
Areas of refuge, with shuttle service, have been established at the Stehekin Ranch, airfield, Buckner Orchard and Stehekin bakery. Parking is at the airfield, a change from Friday’s community meeting. Please park on the edges of the airfield.
The American Red Cross will establish a shelter for evacuees if needed. It would be opened at the Chelan community gym, 317 E. Johnson St. Upon docking in Chelan, evacuees would be transported to the community gym by Link Transit buses, if needed.
With a Level 3, all nonessential employees with fire teams will be evacuated. EM and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office are staged in Stehekin.

[CascadeClarke]

Level 3 evacuation goes in to effect tomorrow (Sunday) at 8 AM.

Most of the town will stay.
I will be leaving on the 12:30 boat.

[pasayten]

Winds are erratic today. Every which way you can say. Expect Pioneer to be quite active over the next couple days. Enjoy the clean air while you can. It's beautiful out (at least in my neck of the woods).

[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Daily Update July 27, 2024
Quick Facts
Size: 32,048 acres
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 14%
Personnel: 749
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Resources Assigned: 12 crews, 4 helicopters, 24 engines, 27 water tenders, 12 heavy equipment
CURRENT SITUATION: There was limited growth of the Pioneer fire yesterday. Firefighters responded to fire activity in Fourmile drainage with helicopter water drops to slow fire spread. Crews continued to patrol and mop up hotspots along the lakeshore and firefighters worked into the evening around the mouth of Fourmile creek, successfully protecting structures in that area with strategic firing operations. In Stehekin, firefighters continued to widen and improve the fireline around the community. The fireline will allow firefighters to safely work to implement strategic firing operations, burning out vegetation between the fireline and active fire, should this become necessary. The southern edge of the fire has held in Lone Fir drainage for several days, and a reconnaissance flight yesterday confirmed no visible heat in the drainage. South of the fire, crews continued to clear and improve roads and indirect contingency lines. Should conditions change later in the season, firefighters may use these indirect contingency lines to prevent the fire from reaching Manson.
Stehekin is closed to recreational visitors while a level 2 evacuation remains in place. Fire management is coordinating with local businesses in Stehekin to provide meals and other support for fire personnel. The southern edge of the fire is approximately 23 miles northwest of Manson. The communities of Chelan and Manson remain open for business and tourism.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Firefighters will continue to patrol and protect structures along the lakeshore, implementing strategic firing operations where necessary. Helicopters will drop water where needed to limit fire spread. Fire crews will also continue improving the constructed fireline around the community of Stehekin, and completing other preparations like removing snags and installing hoses and sprinklers to protect Stehekin. Crews will also continue to improve roads and continency lines south of the fire and east of Manson.
WEATHER: Continued warm and generally dry weather is forecast for today, with high temperatures in the 80s. Winds will be light and mostly terrain driven, shifting to down lake in the afternoon and increasing in speed into the evening. There is a 10% chance for a light shower or brief thunderstorm.
EVACUATIONS: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.
FOREST CLOSURE: Current 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.../wases-pioneer
Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM
Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

[pasayten]

7/27/2024 Information Maps

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[pasayten]

https://www.facebook.com/allthingslakechelan

[CascadeClarke]

All Things Lake Chelan page on fB has some good pics.

[CascadeClarke]

It is interesting-I did not hear any stories about the Stehekin Ferry schedule, but I am glad they made a post.

There was some confusion about the mail delivery-mostly caused by me and not communicating very well. I think we got that sorted out.

Went to the meeting tonight. Went well (as well as it could have gone) and now we just wait for level 3. I am ready. I told myself to be ready by today.

Perspective on watching the fire is a funny thing-from one view it looks like it is over town, its hard to tell. If I can I am going to get out in my kayak this weekend. Then I can get a good look at the hillside.

[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Daily Update July 26, 2024
Quick Facts
Size: 31,906 acres
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 14%
Personnel: 766
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Resources Assigned: 12 crews, 5 helicopters, 24 engines, 28 water tenders, 12 heavy equipment
CURRENT SITUATION: Along the lakeshore, fire activity moderated yesterday, and helicopters dropped water to further slow fire spread. Crews continued strategic firing operations around homes and outbuildings around DP 17 near Flick Creek and patrolled the area to ensure no heat remained from previous firing operations. In Stehekin, firefighters continued to improve the fireline around the community, and working in coordination with state mobilized resources, put in a sprinkler system and tested it. The southern edge of the fire continues to hold in Lone Fir Creek and crews continued to work on the indirect contingency lines south of the fire.
Logistics on the Pioneer Fire take an extra level of coordination given the remote communities and access. Firefighters on the north and lakeshore fire areas are being supported by boats to transport them to the fire area and bring firefighting supplies. In addition, fire management is working with local businesses in Stehekin to provide meals and other support for crews working in that area.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Suppression and containment efforts will continue across the Pioneer Fire today. Along the northwest perimeter of the fire, firefighters are preparing to conduct additional strategic firing operations to burn out vegetation between the line and active fire. Drones may be used in this effort and firefighters will work through the night to patrol the area and support potential firing operations. Helicopters will provide water drops to cool the fire and limit spread. In Stehekin, fire crews will continue improving the constructed fireline around the community and coordinating with the state mobilized structure protection group working around homes and private property. South of the fire, crews will be clearing and improving roads near Gold Creek and Oss Peak.
WEATHER: Today warmer and drier conditions will return, with high temperatures in the mid-80s. Winds tomorrow will be lighter and mostly terrain driven, shifting to down lake or northwest in the evening.
EVACUATIONS: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.
FOREST CLOSURE: Current 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.../wases-pioneer
Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM
Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

[pasayten]

7/26/2024 Information Maps

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[pasayten]

Cliff Courtney

There are stories floating around about the Stehekin Ferry schedule. Here is a picture taken last night at the dock in Stehekin. I have also posted today’s press release to help end all rumors. We are not going anywhere and the schedule stays the same.

RE: Stehekin Ferry Operations

Today, July 25th, the Stehekin Ferry will remain on schedule to evacuate guests departing Stehekin. If an extra run becomes necessary we are prepared to do that.

Stehekin Ferry is dedicated to continue to supply transportation to Stehekin residents throughout this fire event. We will continue to run on schedule with the 77 passenger Stehekin Clipper. That vessel leaves Stehekin at 10:40 am every morning and travels to Fields Point Landing. It departs Fields Point at 1:00 pm daily bound for Holden and Stehekin.

If the Stehekin area reaches a level 3, we will continue to support other points up lake on schedule, including Lucerne and Holden Village. If that should happen every effort will be put in to stage out of Lucerne or some other unaffected location.

The first area that will seemingly reach level 3 is the landing and our port. If that happens and if it becomes unsafe to access the port we will remain agile and work with folks with smaller boats who could shuttle residents from the Silver Bay area.

It is our plan to have the Stehekin Clipper and the Sunny Jo at the disposal of residents and fire crew in the event that emergency evacuation becomes necessary.

If you have any questions contact Cliff Courtney at 509.470.5964.

Photo by Chad Ashby

[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Community Meeting in Stehekin on Friday, July 26 at 5pm. Meeting will be at the Golden West Visitor.
Due to limited connectivity, the meeting will not be live streamed. However, the meeting will be recorded and dependent on recording quality it will be posted on the Pioneer and Easy Fire Information Facebook page.

[pasayten]

Pioneer Fire Daily Update July 25, 2024
Quick Facts
Size: 31,584 acres
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA
Containment: 14%
Personnel: 729
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Resources Assigned: 9 crews, 4 helicopters, 25 engines, 28 water tenders, 12 heavy equipment
CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday fire activity increased in the Flick Creek drainage, crossing the creek above the constructed a check line. The fire continues on a northwest trajectory towards Fourmile Creek and in the direction of Stehekin. As a precautionary measure, Chelan County Emergency Management issued a Level 2 evacuation notice for the community of Stehekin, from Hazard Creek through the Stehekin Valley, including the Stehekin landing and west to High Bridge effective 8 a.m. Thursday, July 25. All tourism-related visitors and all campers and hikers are required to leave Stehekin on July 25. More information, including boat schedules, is available from Chelan County Emergency Management at https://t.ly/QoH9w.
Crews have been successful protecting homes and outbuildings along the lake shore, burning out vegetation around structures and public infrastructure as the fire has progressed northward. Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft continued aerial water drops to slow fire spread. In Stehekin, firefighters worked in collaboration with the state mobilized structure protection group to reduce fire risk around homes and private property. The south end of the fire continues to hold in the Lone Fir drainage where there has been no movement for several days. Indirect control lines between the southern edge of the fire and Manson are prepared and ready to be used if needed.
The incident management team hosted a community meeting in Manson last night to provide updates on the fire. A recording of the meeting can be viewed on the Pioneer Fire Information Facebook page.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Firefighters will continue protecting homes along the lake shore and are prepared to strategically burn out vegetation between control lines and the fire’s edge to slow spread towards the community of Stehekin. Aircraft will also continue to perform water bucket drops within the Flick Creek and Fourmile Creek drainages. Work to reduce fire risks around homes in Stehekin will continue and firefighters will be laying a hose and sprinklers system and testing to ensure it is working properly. Crews will continue monitoring the southern edge of the fire in the Lone Fir drainage.
WEATHER: Strong northwest winds are expected today, 10-20 mph with gusts of 25 to 30 mph, slowing into tomorrow morning. Cooler, moister, conditions are expected, with high temperatures in the 70s.
EVACUATIONS: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.
FOREST CLOSURE: Current 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: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. 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.../wases-pioneer
Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM
Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

[pasayten]

7/25/2024 Information Maps

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[pasayten]

A fairly smoke free night for Stehekin and the Methow Valley...

[CascadeClarke]

Yeah

[pasayten]

Dang…. All the PCT hikers food re-supplies.

[CascadeClarke]

I have to pack up and evacuate the post office.
Not looking forward to this.

[pasayten]

Chelan County Emergency Management
·
Level 2 Evacuation Notice for Stehekin begins 8 a.m. July 25:
Chelan County Emergency Management has issued a Level 2 evacuation notice for the community of Stehekin, from Hazard Creek through the Stehekin Valley, including the Stehekin landing and west to High Bridge.
The Level 2 goes into effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 25. Pioneer and Easy Fires Information
A Level 2 evacuation means no tourism-related visitors will be ferried into Stehekin.
We are requiring the following groups to leave Stehekin on July 25:
• All tourism-related visitors
• All campers and hikers
Emergency Management and the Chelan County Sheriff’s office will be staged in Stehekin. Because of firefighting efforts, it is vital the above groups leave Stehekin under the Level 2 order.
Please check back on this page and our website (link below) for the boat schedule, which we will post as soon as we have it. We will also post the times to be at the landing for transportation out of Stehekin Thursday.
Parking is extremely limited at the landing; the space is needed for fire equipment and emergency personnel. Please use the recommended parking area at the airfield. Shuttle buses running along Stehekin Valley Road will provide transport to the landing.
Areas of Refuge, with shuttle service, have also been established at the Stehekin Ranch, airfield, Buckner Orchard and Stehekin bakery. See the attached evacuation routes and locations.
For residents and property owners, we strongly advise you begin to prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. Have your valuables packed and an exit strategy to the airfield.
In the event of a Level 3 evacuation, we typically go door-to-door, advising people to leave. However, in an emerging situation, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to reach you.
Residents can find fire information on the fire information board at the Stehekin landing. A public Information Officer (PIO) is stationed in Stehekin and is available to answer questions. PIOs visit local businesses daily to provide current updates. A PIO can provide visitors with information to assist with their plans to leave the area.
Monitor the Chelan County Emergency Incidents Map for evacuation levels:
https://chelangis.maps.arcgis.com/.../media/index.html...
EM Active Emergencies webpage: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/emer.../pag ... mergencies