July 20, 2024
Chelan County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Pioneer Fire located in Chelan County, near the town of Stehekin. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 20, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief Robert Nielsen, Chelan County
Fire District 10.
The Pioneer Fire started on June 8, 2024, at approximately 12:48 p.m. This fire is estimated at 26,407 acres and growing. It is burning in timber, grass, and brush and is threatening critical infrastructure, utilities, and a primary egress route. Level 1 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray is activated to Level 2, partial activation, to help coordinate state assistance for the Pioneer Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered one wildland task force and the fire is currently being managed by a Type 2 Incident Management Team. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.
Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization. The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at: https://wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.
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