​Evening Update, Rock Fire July 21, 2026 – 7:00 p.m

• ​Facebook: @inyonf
• ​X: @CALFIREBDU
• ​Link: https://tr.ee/RockFire
• ​Fire information: 909-881-6949
• ​Location: Black Rock Springs Road and Hwy 395, Poverty Hills, Inyo County, CA
• ​Unified Command: CAL FIRE, USFS, CHP and Inyo Sheriff
• ​Cause: Under Investigation by CAL FIRE Law Enforcement
• ​Size: 5,500
• ​Percent contained: 5%
• ​Start date: July 20, 2026

​CURRENT SITUATION: Today strong northern winds continued to push Rock Fire flames toward Birch Creek, Fish Springs, Tinemaha Campground, Baxter Ranch, and the Perlite Mine area. The fire has moved into several campgrounds and is directly abutting campsites and impacting power lines; however, no injuries, structure losses, or property losses have been reported. Joint air and ground resources are actively coordinating suppression and structure protection efforts wherever safety allows.

​Firefighters face environmental and terrain obstacles. The fuels consist primarily of rabbit brush, sage brush, and salt grass interspersed with sharp lava rock, which prevents bulldozers from accessing major portions of the fire perimeter. Firefighters are also dealing with complex local wind patterns: the diurnal shift typically pushes the fire southwest and upslope to the north in the morning, followed by a dramatic 180-degree pivot back to the south between 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

​The overnight strategy leverages lighter wind conditions to secure the heel of the fire, ensuring it does not outflank crews when the wind direction turns again.

​WEATHER: Today’s operations were also complicated by severe weather downdrafts, thunderstorms, and lightning, which periodically forced crews to temporarily disengage for safety. Temperatures are forecasted to climb into the 100s by the end of the week, though predictable diurnal wind patterns are expected to return tomorrow.

​EVACUATION, SHELTER, AND CLOSURE INFORMATION: Visit Ready Inyo https://tr.ee/ReadyInyo for the most current and up to date Road Closures, Shelter Locations and Evacuation information.