FIRE REPORT: Pioneer Fire still growing in North Cascades

MOSES LAKE  — The Pioneer Fire burning along the eastern shore of Lake Chelan continued to grow Tuesday, reaching 10,677 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Containment remained at 14%. Eleven crews, 13 helicopters, five engines, 14 water tenders and 13 heavy equipment units were devoted to fighting the blaze, which has been burning since June 8.

The Shoofly Fire was discovered Monday in the Cascades about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee, according to the NIFC. By Tuesday it had grown to 120 acres and crews from both Chelan and Snohomish counties were fighting it. 

These other fires were also burning in Washington on Tuesday, according to the NIFC:

• The 1980 Slide Ranch Fire, discovered June 22 about 20 miles southwest of Yakima, was 99% contained Tuesday at 3,166 acres. The fire was human-caused, and costs were estimated at $4 million.

• The Balsam Root Fire on the northwest outskirts of Wenatchee was fully contained Tuesday at 305 acres. Suppression costs were estimated at $446,859.

• The Daisy Fire, discovered July 4 on Lake Roosevelt about 47 miles northeast of Grand Coulee, was at 10.3 acres Tuesday. The reported cause was human activity. Containment and cost information was not available.

• The Diamondback Ridge Fire, near Zillah in the Yakima Valley, had burned 300 acres since its discovery May 17. Cost and containment information was not available Tuesday.

• The Gold Creek Fire, discovered June 22 in the Methow Valley about 31 miles southwest of Omak, was fully contained at 278 acres Tuesday. Costs were estimated at $1.7 million. The cause of the blaze was undetermined.

• The Middle Mountain Fire about 34 miles northeast of Grand Coulee was discovered July 4 and was 50% contained at 14 acres Monday. Costs were estimated at $3 million. The cause was reported to be natural.

• The Morgan Lake Fire in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge was discovered July 3 and was at 120 acres Tuesday. Cost and containment information was not available.  

• The Mutual Aid 20151 Fire, discovered June 27 just a few miles southwest of Clarkston, remained at 50 acres Tuesday. Cost and containment information was not yet available and the cause was undetermined.

• The 840-acre Road 11 Fire burning about 12 miles southwest of Mansfield was fully contained Tuesday. Costs were estimated at $209,000.

• The Sand Flat Fire about 2 miles northeast of Omak was discovered July 4 and remained at 120 acres Tuesday. The cause was undetermined.

Other fires reported throughout the state have burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. The majority are less than 1 acre.

Air quality was moderate over most of eastern Washington Tuesday, according to the website AirNow, which is operated by a consortium of government agencies. The Air Quality Index, or AQI, was deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups in the area around Lake Chelan.

Joel Martin may be reached by email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.