The Pioneer Fire, which started on June 8th, is currently burning 31 miles northwest of Chelan. Initially reported on private land, the fire quickly spread to the US Forest Service land and wilderness areas. Fire management teams are employing a full-suppression strategy to combat this wildfire. This approach is crucial for safeguarding private properties, essential public infrastructure, and valuable natural and recreational resources. The full suppression strategy is partly due to the fire’s origin on private land and suspicion of human cause. Local businesses are being engaged to support the suppression efforts, benefiting the local economy. Importantly, the communities of Chelan and Manson remain open and welcoming to visitors despite the ongoing fire.
Initial efforts to directly contain the Pioneer Fire faced significant challenges due to the extremely steep and remote terrain on the east side of Lake Chelan. Access to this area is limited, requiring boat or air transport. The full suppression strategy involves a combination of direct and indirect attack methods, as well as point protection tactics, focusing on areas where success is most likely and safety can be maintained. Firefighters are actively building firelines and setting up hose lays, supported by aircraft dropping water to control the fire’s spread.
Although a large portion of the fire is within wilderness areas, crews have been diligently assessing and implementing structure protection measures around Lake Chelan and towards Stehekin, including Stehekin Ranch, to enhance defensibility against the fire.
Chelan County is continuously updating evacuation levels in response to changes in fire activity. For the latest evacuation information, please refer to the ‘Announcements’ tab on official county resources.
Both the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the National Park Service have issued closure orders for areas affected by the Pioneer Fire. For detailed information on these closures, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices and https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fire-closures.htm. Hikers should note that the Pacific Crest Trail is also closed in the affected region. For further details on trail closures, please check: closures.pcta.org/. Staying informed through official channels and resources like a Pioneer Fire Map is essential for public safety and awareness during this ongoing situation.
