Inyo National Forest

Update for Monday, June 21 @10am: #InyoCreekFire is at 50 acres, no containment yet. Minimal fire activity overnight. Winds are expected to increase across the area later today. Almost all of this fire is being fought from the air due to rugged terrain.

Update for Sunday, June 20 @7:33:02pm: InciWeb–50 acres and 0% contained.

Update for Sunday, June 20 @4:45pm–Evacuations initiated for the Inyo Creek Fire: Fire management is currently working with the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office to get all of Whitney Portal evacuated. The fire is expected to establish into Meysan Lake Drainage and move towards the Portal. This is a one way in one way out road and it is critical to evacuate to reduce the possibility of a chaotic situation. The Inyo County Sheriff’s will be physically contacting visitors, residents, and business owners to notify them of the evacuation. This will consist of the Mt. Whitney Trailhead, the Whitney Portal Store, Whitney Portal Campground, Recreation Residents, Lone Pine Campground, and Meysan Lake Trail.

Photo: The Gateway to Mt. Whitney

The Inyo Creek Fire continued to burn overnight and through today. Caused by lightning, the fire is approximately 50 acres and burning on the Northeast side of Lone Pine Peak and very close to the Meysan Lake Drainage that runs directly toward Whitney Portal. There is 0% containment because ground crews are limited on taking direct action on the fire due to the steep and rugged terrain the fire is burning in. Helicopters have been providing bucket drops to try to keep the fire in check, however mechanical problems have limited the number of helicopters that are able to work on that task.

Photo: The Gateway to Mt. Whitney

Southwest winds of 10-15 MPH, temperatures more than 100 degrees, and rollout due to the steep terrain have caused the fire to grow. These conditions are expected to continue through today. Gusty winds are also expected tonight. It is critical that people stay out of the Whitney Portal area. If the fire gets established in the Meysan Lake Drainage, it could move towards the Portal area quickly.

Inyo Creek Fire located on the Northeast side of Lone Pine Peak 

Currently the fire is around 1 acre in size, but the remote and rugged location is limiting crews from making access. Crews on the ground are working on contingency line below the fire and 2 helicopters are being used to drop buckets of water directly on the fire.

Water drops from helicopter initially deployed.

There is a chance that the fire could get established in the Meysan Lake drainage as it is very close to that drainage. The Meysan Lake drainage runs directly down to the Whitney Portal area. There is a possibility of evacuations if the Inyo Creek Fire gets into the Meysan Lake drainage. The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office would issue a Code Red alert to advise those needing to evacuate. If evacuations are needed, the Whitney Portal Store, the Whitney Portal Campground, the Mt. Whitney trailhead, Recreation
Residents, Lone Pine Campground, and the Meysan Lake trail would be included in the evacuation area.

As of now there are no evacuations

There are currently 3 type 1 crews, 2 type 3 engines, 1 water tender, 1 type 1 helicopter, 1 type 2 helicopter, and 1 type 3 helicopter assigned to the fire. Another type 1 helicopter is on order for tomorrow to assist with water drops. Another update will come out tomorrow afternoon unless there are any significant changes