Well, the first effort to retrieve vehicles abandoned at Whitney Portal had to be  cancelled because the Inyo Creek Fire flared up and it just wasn’t safe to allow anyone go up to Portal. So, authorities are giving it another shot.

On Thursday June 24 at 8 a.m. the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol, along with California Team 13, will be assisting people who had to leave their cars at Whitney Portal due to the Inyo Creek Fire to pick them up.

This opportunity is dependent upon favorable fire behavior and may be cancelled if conditions become unsafe.

Those who wish to retrieve a vehicle parked at Whitney Portal must arrive promptly at or before 8 a.m. to the Lone Pine Sports Complex, located adjacent to the Inyo County Sheriff Substation. Those affected will be escorted or transported (if needed) to retrieve their cars.

Any hiking gear, backpacks, etc. must be left and secured at the Sheriff Substation prior to being escorted or transported to their vehicles. Please keep in mind that this recovery must be done promptly so as not to interfere with fire operations.

Other opportunities for vehicle retrieval will happen when conditions are deemed safe.

For updates on the Inyo Creek Fire, please check InciWeb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7564/.