In the ongoing battle against Washington state's largest wildfire this season, more than 650 firefighters are tirelessly working to protect the quaint township of Stehekin, a locale nestled in a corner only reachable by boat or float plane. As reported by KING5, the Pioneer Fire, now encompassing over 37,850 acres since its ignition on June 11, has come perilously close to infrastructure, with flames advancing as near as 20 feet from some structures. Deputy Incident Commander with CA Team 15, Stephen Fillmore, conveyed the urgency of the situation, saying, “It's actually been right behind structures,” emphasizing the proximity of the fire to the Stehekin community.

The firefighting effort has been relentless and, to significantly bolster their resources, the crew has brought in new air equipment, including a Sky Crane helicopter capable of dropping several thousand gallons of water. As KPQ detailed, the aerial strategy complements the 40 miles of hose lines, sprinklers, and structure wraps on the ground that has, thus far, prevented any loss of structures. The fire has also been fought using targeted retardant drops, with about 23,000 gallons laid down by a retardant bomber on the fire's western defenses.

Fillmore, who serves also as an Incident Commander Trainee, outlined that the team assigned to the Pioneer Fire is the 5th since the onset of the incident, with changes expected roughly every week to keep personnel fresh amid the grueling conditions. Crews are maintaining a round-the-clock presence, alternating between a substantial day shift and an overnight crew ensuring 24-hour coverage.