CURRENT SITUATION: On Wednesday, an uptick in winds with gusts up to 18-20 mph increased fire activity including individual trees torching within the fire area. The fire is burning in large dense timber, abundant dead trees, and ground vegetation on extremely steep terrain. The fire continues to slowly progress on the north and south side while creeping down slope towards State Route 20 (SR 20) North Cascades Highway. Yesterday helicopters dropped water to slow the spread of the fire while ground crews constructed fire line. The fire is just above State Route 20 and rolling rock, falling trees, and active fire near the highway continues to necessitate a closure on State Route 20. The closure is in place to protect the public from hazards associated with the fire as well as fire suppression activities. Crews are felling dead trees between the active fire edge and State Route 20 to reduce fire spread toward the highway. Firefighters, in conjunction with Washington Department of Transportation, are working to remove fallen trees and debris from State Route 20 and are conducting daily assessments of road conditions and fire behavior.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Firefighters continue to fall trees below and parallel State Route 20 and are working to reinforce indirect firelines on the Easy Fire. Crews will also clear fallen trees and debris across State Route 20 with assistance from Washington Department of Transportation. Additionally, firefighters will maintain utilizing helicopters for water bucket drops if weather conditions allow. Operations to wrap Mebee Lookout Tower are under consideration again due to increased fire activity on the north side of Easy Fire. Crews are scouting helispot locations to establish a landing zone for helicopters to deliver supplies for structure protection operations on Mebee Lookout Tower.
WEATHER: Temperatures tomorrow will continue to cool with highs in the mid to upper 70s. An incoming marine layer will move over the Easy Fire tomorrow bringing a few hundredths of an inch of rain and higher humidity. The cooler moist air could cause fog and increased winds, impacting aviation resources. EVACUATIONS: There are no evacuations in place for the Easy Fire. Anyone recreating in the area should be vigilant about being aware of surroundings and stay out of closed areas. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information about evacuation levels. CLOSURES: State Route 20 is closed in both directions between Granite Creek (MP 148) and Easy Pass Trailhead (MP 157).
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has closures in place for trails within the fire area: https://bit.ly/EasyFireClosures. This closure includes a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. Campfires are prohibited. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under the TFR. .
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Public Information: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Pioneer-Fire-Information/61560760893080/ E-mail: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov Phone: 541-861-5808; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (7 days a week) Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-pioneer and https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-easy-fire Washington Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/pioneerfirechelan | 
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