Pioneer Fire inches closer to Stehekin as crews focus on structure protection; public meeting scheduled for Tuesday

CHELAN — The Pioneer Fire, which has been burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area since June 8, is now approximately 3.5 miles southeast of the North Cascades National Park boundary and 8 to 10 miles from the community of Stehekin. Although there is no immediate threat to the area, firefighters are prioritizing the protection of private residences and structures as the fire continues its northward progression.

A public meeting to update residents on the current situation and firefighting efforts will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the North Cascades National Park Golden West Visitor Center. The meeting will not have a virtual option.

Aviation resources are supporting ground crews by dropping water, while firefighters work to remove brush, snags, and other vegetation around structures, cut firelines where appropriate, and install hoses, pumps, and sprinklers. Crews have completed structure protection work at Meadow Creek and have begun similar efforts at Moore Point, which is expected to take several days.

Lower temperatures and higher humidity are moderating fire activity, with the blaze slowly moving north toward Meadow Creek and potentially backing into the area today. The fire may also move southward at higher elevations in the Rex Creek drainage.

Wind gusts of up to 35 mph were recorded along the crest of the Cascades early this morning and are expected to persist throughout the day. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms later today, and the incident meteorologist is closely monitoring conditions to alert crews if lightning is detected. Precipitation on the fire is not expected to exceed 1/10 of an inch.

A second hotshot crew is being embedded at Moore Point today to begin longer-term scouting and implementation of point protection and potential indirect lines. Due to the rugged, inaccessible terrain and heavy fuels, the fire is likely to continue burning for an extended period.

Tactical firing operations along the Lakeshore Trail have successfully steered the fire toward the lake and away from a residence at Rex Creek. Crews will continue to mop up and secure the area today, while also wrapping Forest Service bridges, shelters, and other infrastructure south of Rex Creek toward Prince Creek.

The Pioneer Fire has consumed 1,998 acres since its start, with 298 personnel and six aircraft currently assigned to the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but human factors are suspected.

Evacuation orders and public safety closure orders remain in place for affected areas, and authorities continue to urge the public to adhere to these orders for their own safety and the safety of the firefighters working to contain the blaze.