News releases

The Lions Fire is estimated at 7,494 acres with 60% containment, showing an increase of 846 acres. There are 180 personnel committed to the fire, including 7 crews, 4 helicopters, and a pack string of mules from the Stanislaus National Forest.

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The most active portion of the fire remains on the western flank in the Cargyle Creek Drainage of the Sierra National Forest. Increased fire activity is expected today.

Crews continue to make progress on the fire. The fireline along the northeast flank of the fire remains secure (south of Fern Lake) and crews are slowly strengthening this line to the west towards Corral Meadows with burnout operations. This line provides a buffer, keeping the main fire from spotting into King Creek to protect developed areas in Devils Postpile National Monument, Reds Meadow, and Mammoth Lakes. Burnout operations will continue to occur in the interior to secure the perimeter from fire runs.

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Along the western flank, crews are using trail networks and rock barriers for containment lines. Crews also continue to construct fireline along the southwest flank in an effort to keep the fire crossing the San Joaquin River. Helicopters are supporting them by cooling the fire’s edge with water drops.

The area has experienced approximately 50% tree mortality from bark beetles and drought conditions. Fire activity includes short duration crown runs and group torching. The south and west flanks are expanding slowly, and in some locations the fire is moving downslope.

Hot and dry conditions remain in the forecast. A Red Flag warning is in effect today from 10 am to Sunday 5 am for gusty winds and low humidity.

The Reds Meadow Road and all services in the Reds Meadow Valley, including Devils Postpile National Monument and Rainbow Falls, remain open.

Closures: There is an emergency trail closure for the Fern Lake and Beck Lake Trails on the Inyo National Forest and emergency trail closures and a Forest Order to close the area on the Sierra National Forest (west of the North Fork of the San Joaquin River, north of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River and South of Iron Creek.

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Smoke Advisory

Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District

Ferguson Fire and other wildfires

Stage 2 Health Advisory

Affected Areas: Mono County and Owens Valley with heaviest impacts currently from Crowley Lake to Coso Junction

Smoke Sources: Ferguson Fire, Lions Fire, Tarina Fire and Donnel Fire

Based on air pollution levels throughout the Owens Valley and Crowley Lake as well as early morning levels in Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes a Stage 2 Air Pollution Health Advisory is in effect throughout the day on August 4, 2018. Periods of heavy smoke and clearing may fluctuate during the day depending on wind patterns. Visit www.gbuapcd.org for near real time conditions.

For more information on ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, click here.

A Stage 2 Health Advisory recommends that everyone refrain from strenuous outdoor activities in the impacted areas.

Air pollution monitors in Inyo and Mono Counties:

US Forest Service PM2.5 Monitor deployed in Mammoth Lakes

US Forest Service PM2.5 Monitor deployed in Crowley Lake

Bishop (NCORE Site at White Mountain Research Station)

Fort Independence Tribal Monitor

Smoke conditions may change quickly. If you have any questions please visit: www.gbuapcd.org or call the Great Basin Air Pollution Control District office in Bishop at 760-872-8211 during regular business hours.

Health advisories on the web: https://gbuapcd.org/AirMonitoringData/HealthAdvisories/

More Information: Ferguson Fire InciWeb Page and Lions Fire InciWeb Page

Current Smoke Information

Information on all smoke events being monitored in the District: https://gbuapcd.org/smoke/

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California Statewide Fire Summary

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Over 14,000 firefighters remain on the line of 17 large wildfires across California. To date, these fires have burned over 450,000 acres and damaged or destroyed over 2,000 structures. 16,500 homes continue to be threatened by these fires, and nearly 40,000 residents are under evacuation. The Carr Fire is now the 17^thlargest fire in state history.

Increased winds across the state will elevate fire risk today. In Northern California, red flag warnings are in effect for several areas of the state impacting both the Carr Fire and Mendocino Complex. Winds are expected to increase to 30 mph and even 40 mph near the border of California and Nevada. In Southern California, temperatures will cool off, but winds will be around 15-25 mph. Higher temperatures in the triple-digits likely to return early next week.

Give your household the best chance of surviving a wildfire by being ready to go and evacuating early. This includes going through pre-evacuation preparation steps (only if time allows) to increase your home’s defenses, as well as creating aWildfire Action Plan for your family. Being ready to go also means knowing when to evacuate and what to do if you become trapped. Prepare now, click here.

Fires of Interest:

Carr Fire, Shasta County (more info…)

Whiskeytown & Redding

• 141,825 acres, 41% contained

• Evacuations and road closures in place

• 22,000 residents evacuated, over 1,300 homes threatened

• 1,073 residences destroyed, 190 residences damaged

• Carr is the 6th most destructive fire, 13^th most deadly and now the 17^th largest fire in state history

• Damage assessment is ongoing

• CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 (Gouvea) in unified command with Whiskeytown NP (Young), City of Redding FD (Kreider) USFS (Pechota)

Mendocino Complex, Mendocino/Lake County

• 201,471 total acres, 34% contained

• CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 (Kavanaugh) in command

• 55 residences destroyed, 10 residences damaged

• 14,300 residents evacuated, over 12,300 structures threatened

River Fire (more info…)

Hopland

• 44,793 acres, 50% contained

• Evacuations and road closures in place

Ranch Fire (more info…)

Ukiah

• 156,678 acres, 27% contained

• Evacuations and road closures in place

Corner Fire, Shasta County

Hwy 299 E x Hwy 89, 8 mi E of Burney

State DPA, SRA, Shasta – Trinity Unit/ County

• 35 acres, brush, timber, 97% contained

Whaleback Fire, Lassen County (more info…)

West of Spaulding (Eagle Lake)

• 18,726 acres, 80% contained

• Evacuations in place

• Unified command USFS NorCal Team 1 (Coots), CAL FIRE (Ferguson)

Tarina Fire, Kern County NEW

South of Hopland

• 1,000 acres, 50% contained

Omega Fire, El Dorado County (more info…)

West of Pilot Hill

• 66 acres, 95% contained

• Two structures destroyed

Bumper Fire, El Dorado County (more info…)

East of Frenchtown

• 67 acres, 95% contained

Ferguson Fire, Mariposa County (more info…)

Yosemite National Park

• 80,755 acres, 36% contained

• Nearly 1,000 structures threatened

• Evacuations and road closures remain in effect

• CA Fed IMT-3 (von Tillow) in command

Eel Fire, Mendocino County (more info…)

East of Covelo

• 1,000 acres, 40% contained

Cranston Fire, Riverside County (more info…)

Hemet

• 13,139 acres, 96% contained

• All evacuations have been lifted

Georges Fire, Inyo County (more info…)

Lone Pine

• 2,883 acres, 70% contained

Horse Creek Fire, Tulare County (more info…)

John Krebs Wilderness Area

• 34 acres, 90% contained

Valley Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…)

Yucaipa

• 1,350 acres, 30% contained

Natchez Fire, Del Norte County (more info…)

Southeast of Cave Junction, OR

• 8,432 acres, 25% contained

Eagle Fire, Modoc County (more info…)

South of Cedarville

• 2,100 acres, 95% contained

Owens Fire, Mono County (more info…)

North of Mammoth Lake

• 312 acres, 95% contained

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1 Comment

Dupper on August 5, 2018 at 6:32 am

Okay Forest people, enough is enough. As I recall, this fire could have easily been put out around July 11. Instead, it was decided by Forest people to let it burn for management and health of the Forest. Well, the Forest may be getting healthy at the expense of Human Lives! 30 years from now, several folks that are non smokers will probably come down with lung cancer thanks to the let it burn policy! The decision maker for this fire needs to be removed from their post and the Forest people need to reevaluate the let it burn policy to something like, an October 1 date or later so that winter can put a fire out in a reasonable time.
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