Published June 13, 2024, Thursday, 1900 hours PT

Photo Courtesy: Inciweb

INCIDENT SUMMARY: A wildfire that broke out on June 8, 2024, at 1248 hours is located about four (4) miles north of Prince Creek and north of Rex Creek and Pioneer Creek in Lake Chelan (Chelan County), Washington State, and burning in the 2001 Rex Creek burn scar.

CAUSE: The cause of this wildfire has been released as “undetermined”.

CURRENT STATUS: There have been 1,468 acres of timber (grass, understory, litter, and understory) and short grass, and has a containment status of 0%. The fire behavior has been observed as active with uphill runs, isolated torching, and scorching.

FIRE OPERATIONS: Multiple Divisions and Branches have been established:

Photo Courtesy: Inciweb

  • Branch I: Fire ops state they will continue to assess and point protect critical values at risk along the Lake Chelan shoreline based on current and forecasted weather conditions.
  • Branch II: They will begin forming a long-term plan for areas outside of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness area to the east.
  • Divisions A & Z: To continue to assess direct and indirect fire line control from Canoe Creek to Meadow Creek in the Lake Chelan-Sawtootch Wilderness area to limit fire perimeter grown along Lake Chelan.
  • Division S: Will collect inventory and assess historic control lines along the 8200 Road system.

FIRE OPERATIONS: Logistics.

  • Access: Firefighters are only able to access the fireline by being ferried in by boat to establish fire lines and hose lays in an attempt to stop the forward progression of the wildfire.

STAFFING: A total of 186 fire personnel are assigned to this incident under the command structure of a Complex IMT (CIMT) Northwest CIMT Team 13.

INCIDENT COOPERATORS: U.S. Forest Service-Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Chelan County Emergency Management Agency, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Baker River Hotshots

CLOSURES: Road closures by the U.S. Forest Service.

  • The area around Pioneer Fire.
  • Lakeshore Trail from Prince Creek to Moore Point
  • Portions of the Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness
  • Boat-in Campgrounds: Prince, and Cascade Creeks, Moore Point

EVACUATION NOTIFICATIONS/ORDERS:

  • Level 3 / GO NOW: Rex Creek area.
  • Level 2 / GET SET: Edge of Rex Creek evacuation area to past Meadow Creek.
  • Level 1 / BE READY: Meadow Creek to past Fish Creek and Moore Point and the edge of the Rex Creek evacuation area just past Prince Creek.

Photo Credit: Chelan County EMA

ABOUT REX FIRE OF 2001

The REX FIRE was located on the northwest shore of Lake Chelan on the east side of the Cascade Mount Range the location of Eastern Washington’s large fire in the summer of 2001, sparked by lightning. The wildfire would later spread rapidly burning more than 54,298 acres and exposing two small towns, Twisp and Chelan. This location is about five miles from the remote town of Stehikin, which is only accessible by boat.

SOCIAL MEDIA: To follow this wildfire, you can follow us on our Facebook page at nwfireblog and on our Twitter formerly X @nwfireblog.

(c) 2024 NW Fire Blog