STEHEKIN, Wash. — Fire crews are continuing to navigate and fight the largest fire in Washington state, the Pioneer Fire, primarily impacting Stehekin, the small town just northwest of Chelan.
“It's actually been right behind structures,” said Stephen Fillmore, deputy incident commander with CA Team 15. “We're talking as close as maybe 20 feet, to 100 feet or so. And that is pretty much the entirety from the Stehekin landing here, all the way to the head of the lake."
More than 650 firefighters are trying to contain the fast moving Pioneer Fire. Stehekin is a community only accessible by boat or float plane.
As of Saturday, more than 37,000 acres have burned and only 13% of the fire is contained.
Despite the raging fire, fire officials said that no structures have been damaged.
"There's sprinklers everywhere out here,” said incident commander Fillmore. “There's something like 40 miles of hose that has been deployed in and around here in the area of Stehekin. So, as the fire burns down the hill closest to the houses, it hits that wall of water."
He said getting equipment and crew over by boat has been easier than expected. However, fighting the fire on the ground has been the greatest challenge over the last couple months since the fire started in June. With difficult terrain that's sloped and covered with debris and dead trees, air support has been a gamechanger.
"Using those super airplanes,” said Fillmore. “Those fire bosses which is are a smaller version of that and a lot of helicopters."
The town is under a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation order, which means people should leave immediately. But only a few of just over 100 people that live in the town have evacuated.
"I love this community and I think it's important to protect and defend anything you love," said resident Nick Davis.
It's a love that burns deep in a community under fire.
Davis is a small business owner whose lived in town for two decades. He and many others have seen their fair share of fires. Instead of running for the water, they're lending a helping hand.
"They've rented all my side-by-sides from me,” said Davis. “Stehekin Valley Ranch they got their camp set up; the ranch is preparing meals for them. The Stehekin Bakery is preparing meals for them."
It's a collaboration with a goal of keeping this town alive.
Fire officials said it could take until the end of October to get the Pioneer Fire to be fully contained.