The Pioneer Fire in North Cascades National Park was threatening the community of Stehekin/Inciweb

A wildfire approaching 31,000 acres in size on Thursday threatened Stehekin in North Cascades National Park in Washington state, with officials warning residents and travelers there to be ready to evacuate.

The be-ready-to-evacuate notice took effect at 8 a.m. local time Thursday as the Pioneer Fire continued to move towards Stehekin Landing.

According to the National Park Service, the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin is closed and visitors are prohibited from coming to Stehekin by both foot and ferry. Visitors currently in Stehekin will be evacuated from the area to make space for safe and effective wildfire operations, the park said in a release.

There are additional area, trail, front and backcountry campground, and cross-country zone closures. Park closure information can be found on the park’s Fire Closures page.

The fire started on private land on June 8. As of Thursday morning, it was estimated to cover 30,667 acres, with just 14 percent containment. Full containment isn't expected before Halloween.

"The Pioneer incident is within the footprint of the 2001 Rex Creek burn. Fuels in the area are highly modified by previous fire history," the morning fire report noted. "Abundant snags, heavy downed woody material, grasses, young conifer stands and shrub patches occupy the area."

"The Stehekin valley," notes the park on its website, "has long served as a passageway for travelers, linking Washington’s interior wilderness to the rugged Cascade Mountains. Today Stehekin offers vistors an escape from the hustle of the modern day world. Nestled at the headwaters of Lake Chelan, the third deepest lake in the United States, the Stehekin community lives life a little slower."

Stehekin Landing, North Cascades National Park/Rebecca Latson

"There are no roads into Stehekin," the park says. "Connected to the outside world only by foot, boat or plane, the voyage to Stehekin is part of the experience and once you’ve arrived, a variety of historical, cultural, and outdoor activities will connect you with the majestic surroundings. Stehekin serves as a hub to explore the 61,949-acre Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and a gateway to the rest of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex, Stephen Mather Wilderness, and adjacent National Forest Wilderness Areas."