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  • KOIN 6 News

    Washington town with no exit roads prepared to evacuate by ferry as wildfire grows

    By John Ross Ferrara,

    2024-07-22

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2zp25g_0uZp5I5v00

    PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The Pioneer Fire spreading along the northeast side of Lake Chelan in Central Washington is burning roughly three miles from the town of Stehekin — a lakeside community of about 100 people that is only accessible by boat or plane.

    The historic town, which attracts tourists each summer, is currently under a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation alert.

    Pioneer Fire Public Information Officer Javin Dimmick told KOIN 6 News that the fire isn’t expected to reach the town at this time. However, authorities have contacted the residents to prepare them for a possible emergency evacuation by ferry, if necessary.

    “Right now we’re not anticipating [an evacuation of Stehekin], but we’re planning for the worst,” Dimmick said.

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    Yee-Haw! Cowboy hats added to Clark County Sheriff’s Office uniform

    Lake Chelan has several private ferries that boat tourists in and out of Stehekin on a daily basis.

    Sgt. Jason Reinfeld with Chelan County’s Office of Emergency Management told KOIN 6 News that, if Stehekin is placed under “go now” evacuation orders, the county would use these ferries to evacuate the town.

    “Should the evacuation level increase in Stehekin, we will work with the ferry companies to ensure the public has transportation out of Stehekin,” Reinfeld said. “Having a town only reasonably accessible by water presents different challenges when thinking about evacuations.”

    Four wildfires reach ‘megafire’ status in Oregon, scorching thousands of acres

    If Stehekin is evacuated, Dimmick said that residents have been told to meet at the local harbor, where they will board ferries waiting to take them to safety.

    “It wouldn’t be a normal operation,” Dimmick said. “It would be under special circumstances. If they were under (a) level three evacuation, they wouldn’t be waiting for the ferry. It would be a very detailed operation.”

    For now, firefighters are working to protect the town and its 470 buildings. Firefighters have built contingency lines around the entire town, Dimmick said. Firefighters specifically assigned to protecting structures will arrive in Stehekin on July 23.

    As of Monday, the Pioneer Fire is 30,352 acres in size and 14% contained. More than 775 firefighters are currently assigned to the fire.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.

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    Wildfire evacuationPioneer fireEmergency preparednessLake ChelanCentral WashingtonNexstar Media Inc.

    Comments / 49

    Add a Comment
    Doug Salter
    07-25
    so you what change then run for office and if you think it's so easy jump right in
    Bradley Greenwalt
    07-24
    They’ve screwed around with this far since the beginning of June they have all kinds of aircraft available to them to help fight. This fire should’ve thrown everything at it that they had including the kitchen table at the very beginning when it started out at 17 acres this is total irresponsibility bar BLM & DNR & our Forest Service!
    View all comments

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