Pacific NW Incident Management Team 3 returns to Pioneer Fire

Brand update for August 15, 2024

Information published, photo courtesy of Jenifer Byquist

CURRENT SITUATION: Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 will accompany California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 today and assume command of the Pioneer, Easy and Flat Creek fires at 6 a.m. Friday morning. The escort will assist in a smooth transition from one team to the other and in conveying the current strategic situation that has arisen during the team's tenure. Level 3 evacuations remain in effect for the entire Stehekin Valley at the north end of Lake Chelan, affecting 470 residential and commercial properties.

TODAY'S ACTIVITIES: First responder crews and aircrews will respond to any new fires with an aggressive first responder strategy. Fire activity in the Boulder Creek area will increase as the fire spreads upslope toward Butte and Rennie Creek. Based on sightings, a crossfire may spread into Rainbow Creek. Isolated activity from scattered heat sources continues in the tributaries and forks of Little Boulder, Purple, Four Mile, and Fish Creeks. Fire crews continue to increase structure protection measures around the community of Stehekin, patrol the fire area, and look for opportunities to strengthen and better contain the Pioneer Fire.

WEATHER AND SMOKE: Today the chance of rain and thunderstorms is 20 percent, rising to 40 percent on Friday. Temperatures will remain mild, reaching highs of 21 to 25 degrees Celsius each afternoon, with humidity around 30 percent. Winds will be light in the afternoon, blowing from the seaward and slopes, but will blow from the seaward in the evening, with gusts of up to 24 km/h.

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation Levels 1, 2 and 3 remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please contact Chelan County Emergency Management or visit for more information.