Stehekin defenses bolstered as Pioneer Fire leadership prepares transition

Crews have successfully protected structures along Lake Chelan's shoreline from Safety Harbor north to Fourmile Creek, with much of the fire's edge along the lakeshore now contained. Firefighters continue mop-up operations and patrols around structures between Flick Creek and Fourmile Creek.

In a strategic move, a crew was inserted at the northwestern edge of the fire between Fourmile Creek and Hazard Creek. These firefighters are working to suppress hot spots in coordination with water-dropping aircraft, aiming to slow the fire's northward progression.

Community protection efforts in Stehekin have intensified, with firefighters improving defense lines, creating defensible space around structures, and installing pumps and sprinklers. Twenty-six miles of hose have been laid throughout the Stehekin area.

South of the fire, crews have prepared contingency lines along Nelson and Coyote ridges, connecting to Cooper Ridge Road, where a fuel break is being created through vegetation removal and mastication.

However, the firefighting effort faces a new challenge as an Excessive Heat Watch has been issued for Friday and Saturday. This weather shift, coupled with increasingly hot and dry conditions, could potentially reignite more aggressive fire behavior.

Northwest Team 3 is preparing to hand over management of the Pioneer and Easy Fires to California Team 15. The transition is scheduled for Saturday, with the incoming team receiving briefings on the current situation and operational objectives.

As of Thursday, 685 personnel are assigned to the Pioneer Fire. Evacuation orders remain in effect for multiple areas around the fire, and forest closures are still in place. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.