(The Center Square) – As containment efforts wrap up on the state’s largest wildfire near Keller, 750 personnel roughly 100 miles west are fighting to keep the Pioneer Fire from nearby Stehekin.
Only a week ago, the Big Horn and Swawilla fires had burned close to 50,000 acres each. Since then, personnel fully contained Big Horn at 51,569 acres and plan to wrap up Swawilla by Aug. 22, with 53,462 acres currently impacted, according to a wildland fire database.
However, others continue to burn rapidly, such as the Pioneer Fire near Lake Chelan and the Retreat Fire toward Yakima. Residents are evacuating as wildfire crews brace for the heat while protecting as much infrastructure as possible.
While the Pioneer Fire started nearly two months ago, 756 personnel were still fighting the flames Tuesday morning. Last week, the wildfire encompassed 33,000 acres and was 15% contained; Tuesday morning, the fire had reached 36,763 acres, with 12% of the perimeter contained.
According to a Tuesday morning update, “Expected northerly winds around 3 p.m. will present significant challenges for the day’s firefighting operations and increase the potential for rollout, single and group tree torching and uphill runs.”
Several smaller fires also started around Stehekin and Lake Chelan, but personnel noted on a Facebook update that they were monitoring the situation. Due to the steep terrain, the fires are inaccessible to firefighters, but the update said there is currently no direct threat to residents.
The fire crews’ point of contact told The Center Square that while the surrounding fires are small, there’s potential that they could converge to create a larger complex; however, they’re looking at additional areas where they can establish fire lines to prevent that.
The point of contact confirmed that the Pioneer Fire had only damaged one structure so far but is still threatening hundreds of residences.
Chelan County is telling residents in much of the area to get out. Evacuation Level 3 “Get out now!” has been issued through the Stehekin Valley to just north of Moore Point. Level 2 has been issued from Moore Point to Safety Harbor, with Level 1 from there to Camas Creek.
According to the wildland fire database, personnel don’t anticipate reaching 100% containment until Halloween. Much of the Pioneer Fire is burning in the footprint of past wildfires, chasing fuel sources up the steep hills around Stehekin.
Temperatures are forecasted to remain in the 90s throughout the rest of the week, creating “very hot, dry, and unstable conditions,” according to the wildland fire database.
“A camera will be placed at a strategic location so incident management personnel can evaluate fire conditions on a 24-hour basis,” according to Tuesday’s update. “Resources remain fully committed to operations within the Stehekin community.”
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