STEHEKIN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Pioneer Wildfire near Lake Chelan is now burning over 23,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders after days of hot and windy weather.
Chelan County Emergency Management said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, July 16 that a Level 1 evacuation order is now in place for the town of Stehekin at the north end of the lake.
A Level 1 order means residents there should stay alert and prepare to evacuate.
The community of Stehekin has a population of around 80 people and is only accessible by boat or hiking trails.
In addition, a Level 3 evacuation order has been extended on the north side of the lake between Safety Harbor and Hazard Creek in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Anyone in that area should get out now.
Fire crews are working on contingency plans in the town of Manson, which is home to resorts, farms and numerous vineyards and is less than eight miles north of the city of Chelan.
Firefighters are also on the ground working on fire lines and fire suppression and helicopters are dumping buckets of water on the fire.
Investigators say the Pioneer Fire was caused by a structure fire that spread to wildlands on June 8 and it is expected to burn until October.
