Llama Boat

06/15/2025

Some video footage of planes picking up water uplake near deer point today!

06/15/2025

05/27/2025

After a nice winter respite, the Llama Boat is back in operation!

While we hope for a nice slow fire season, she will be ready in case any trouble rises. In the meantime, if you find yourself more than halfway uplake and need some help on the water, we are usually monitoring Marine radio channel 16. 

To celebrate the start of season, we transported the awesome Brie Estes of Chelan Valley Hope and friends uplake for a memorial weekend camping trip at Corral Creek! What a great weekend! 

09/11/2024

After three months of working on the Pioneer Fire, yesterday marked the Llama Boat’s demobilization. Jim Thomas, the pilot, was requested the day of the fire to start working. He remained on this fire throughout the entire duration, easily serving the longest number of days of any marine resource on this fire (exactly 3 months). During his 12 hour shifts every day, the number of firefighters, equipment, hose rolls, and other necessities that he transported is truly unmeasurable.

This local boy finally gets a rest! Living halfway uplake, his wife Sara probably has a chore list ready for him…And he can finally get back to his daily reports of uplake weather for KOZI radio!

A job well done. Thank you for your service.

06/22/2024

Abeautiful day on the water today transporting equipment up to Stehekin! Retired Fire Chief, Mike Williams at the helm (don’t worry, he also captained fire boats during his career)! Although the fire is currently far away from our beloved Stehekin, equipment is being staged there proactively. Those wishing to visit should certainly still continue their plans. It is absolutely gorgeous up there right now!

And another filling firefighter lunch while docking at Lucerne, the uplake base of operations. Those men and women are burning a lot of calories-they need big meals! We certainly didn’t mind it either, as we transported a large amount of “back haul” (garbage, empty fuel containers, recycling) back downlake.

I’m sure many of you are hearing all the helicopters overhead. Not only are they involved in direct suppression activities but other areas of logistical support.

06/22/2024

Firefighter transport day!

We had the privilege to transport a REMS crew (Rapid Extraction Module Support) today. They will be uplake ready to respond to any emergent firefighter injury, providing extrication, extraction and care in a myriad of situations! They do NOT pack light!

While refueling at 25 Mile Creek State Park, we also had the lucky coincidence to witness a release of cutthroat trout!

06/20/2024

Pioneer Creek fire photos from 6/19/24. Limited..we were busy!

06/20/2024

What’s in a fire crew lunch? Here’s your answer!

06/17/2024

Pioneer fire-6/16/24
Father-Daughter crew working!

Happy Father’s Day everyone! 

06/16/2024

Meet the Llama Boat!
It's owned by Jim and Sara at the Llama Ranch, located on the northshore of Lake Chelan near Deer Point about halfway up to Stehekin.

Jim's ancestors date back to 1907 at the Llama Ranch. If you tune into KOZI radio you'll hear their uplake weather report for the Straights every day during the high boating season.

Due to the scarcity of services (and people) in this area, the Llama boat often gets involved in many unusual activities.

When there is an uplake fire, the Llama boat is often deployed to assist. It transports firefighters, equipment; whatever is requested.

If your boat breaks down uplake and you’re smart enough to have a marine band radio, a call on channel 16 will usually get the Llama Boat out to help. We might think it’s all visitors who need boat rescue. But locals in Chelan that have received assistance, you know who you are!

And of course, there are always the unique events, like transporting a large hiking crew that last minute had their original transport to a specific Creek canceled; transport of mountain goats to their place of release, and assisting those needing emergent medical assistance by getting them downlake to an accessible area for an ambulance… just to name a few!

06/16/2024

The Llama Boat assisting on the Pioneer Creek fire-6/13/2024