CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — According to the Southeast Region-Department of Natural Resources, the Pioneer Fire near Lake Chelan continues to be 14% contained.
As of Wednesday, July 17, Chelan County Emergency Management has issued Level 1 (Be Ready) advisories for the Stehekin area and extended Level 2 (Go Now!) evacuations up lake to Hazard Creek. Level 3 evacuations are now from Safety Harbor to Hazard Creek.
On July 20, Chelan County Emergency Management announced that state fire assistance has been mobilized to assist county firefighters in containing the fire.
The Washington State Fire Marshal's Office says mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered one wildland task force. A Type 2 Incident Management Team currently manages the fire.
Spokane Valley Fire Department Division Chief Paul Kimball sent an announcement to the Stehekin community that firefighters will begin structure protection actions on Saturday, July 20.
These actions include:
- Removing combustibles from on and under decks
- Removing pine needles and vegetation within 5 feet of buildings
- Removing brush and tree branches up to 6 feet within 30 feet of homes
- Setting up sprinklers if available
- Closing windows to prevent any embers from entering homes
The Incident Management Team will begin these actions near the Stehekin Landing. Property owners will be contacted, but if owners are not on site, firefighters will continue with structure protection.
Officials say helicopters have dropped 420,000 gallons of water on the fire. Plus, additional boats are arriving daily to aid in the ongoing transportation of personnel, food, and supplies.
Crews were also able to quickly extinguish a fire across Meadow Creek and fuel reduction was completed around several Forest Service campgrounds. An Interagency Hot Shot Crew is now in the area of Meadow Creek to fight any fires that threaten nearby structures.
Officials say fire crews are also setting up portable water tanks on Nelson Ridge to improve water supply and suppression.
Since starting in early June, the fire has burned 26,407 acres. Officials suspect the fire is human-caused but it is still under investigation. The fire is expected to burn until Halloween due to how remote and hard-to-reach the area is.
Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire.
Additional updates can be found in the video below.
