Pioneer Fire: Some Washington residents refuse to evacuate
As the Pioneer Fire crept within a mile and a half of the remote northern town of Stehekin, Washington, emergency management officials on Sunday raced door to door asking residents to leave.
SEATTLE — As the Pioneer Fire crept within a mile and a half of the remote northern town of Stehekin, Washington, emergency management officials on Sunday raced door to door asking residents to leave.
The evacuation warning had been raised to its highest level.
“Boats are running,” said Rich Magnussen, an emergency management specialist with Chelan County. “They’re running twice a day to try to get people out that choose to leave.”
There haven’t been many takers. Most residents have remained in their homes, choosing to bolster their defenses and provide support to firefighters, rather than flee.
“We’ll do everything we can to get people out, but due to fire conditions, we can’t guarantee,” Magnussen added.
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