State of Emergency declared as Pioneer Fire continues to burn along the north shore of Lake Chelan

LAKE CHELAN, Wash. — Last Updated: 9 a.m. Monday, June 17.

Chelan County has officially declared a “state of emergency” for the Pioneer Fire, burning since June 8 approximately 31 miles northwest of Chelan along Lake Chelan’s north shore.

A county press release says the “emergency declaration affords commissioners the ability to use local resources without going through the typical government bidding process for goods and services.”

With the fire growing to 3,811 acres, evacuation levels have been upgraded once again by Chelan County Emergency Management.

In coordination with fire managers, Chelan County Emergency Management has extended Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations just north of Moore Point down the lake to Canoe Creek. A Level 2 (Be Prepared) evacuation order has been issued down lake from Canoe Creek to Lone Fire Creek. A Level 1 (Be Aware) order is in place from Lone Fir Creek down the lake to Safety Harbor.

Evacuation levels up the lake have not changed, and remain at Level 2 (Be Prepared) for the area just north of Moore Point, up to and including Flick Creek Campground, and Level 1 (Be Aware) for Flick Creek Campground, up to and including the Fourmile Creek camping area.

According to the most recent update from Inciweb posted on Sunday, June 16, fire suppression management has been divided into two branches, Branch 1, encompassing operations and planning up the lake, and Branch 2, overseeing operations and planning down the lake, which currently consists of road work and scouting potential control lines.

A public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, at the North Cascades National Park Golden West Visitor Center in Stehekin, Washington to update the community on the most recent information regarding the fire.

There is some concern about the smoke and air quality impacting communities downwind, including the Gold Creek area. Recreational boaters are asked to maintain space from aircraft utilizing Lake Chelan for water collection, and recreationists are asked to follow the forest closure orders for their safety and the safety of firefighters.

For more information and the most recent updates from emergency services on evacuations and closures, to see maps of the closures, visit InciWeb, U.S. Forest Service trail closures, and the Chelan County Emergency Incidents Map.

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