Single Publication

Sierra National Forest                                 

Basin Fire Update         

Wednesday, July 3, 2024                       

Public Fire Information: 559-468-6809, 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. 

Media Information: 559-492.9967  NEW

Email: 2024.basin@firenet.gov

Facebook: @SierraNF

TONIGHT TONIGHT * Basin Fire Update on Facebook Live July 3 @ 5:45PM * TONIGHT TONIGHT

Join us at https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF

PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT:  1118 personnel, 23 crews, 72 engines & 13 helicopters.

CURRENT SITUATION: After igniting on June C26, 2024, the Basin Fire northeast of Fresno is at 13,926 acres. Containment is now 26%. Containment was gained along the Kings River corridor. It is expected that today, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will be joining in unified command with the Sierra National Forest.

• Eastern perimeter:  Crews continue to improve contingency lines.  These crews are staying in a spike camp to access this area.

• Southern perimeter:  Containment line has been secured along much of the South Fork of the Kings River and the area is being monitored.

• Western perimeter:  Crews have boxed in the fire with a combination of dozer line and retardant. This has improved road access to the fire for engines and fire personnel. 

•  Northern perimeter:  Forward spread has been stopped with retardant drops on the west side of Dinkey Creek, but this area does not have fire-line and is difficult to access.  Firefighters are continuing to evaluate how to safely get crews into the area to construct this line.  A contingency line is being built with dozers several miles north of this area to stop the fire if it crosses Dinkey Creek.

An EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING over the next 7 days will affect the fire with hotter temperatures and drier vegetation. Temperatures within the 90s and low 100s are expected across the fire Wednesday, with minimum humidity of 20-28%. Low winds expected with gusts up to 15mph. 

The Basin Fire started on June 26, 2024 and the cause is currently under investigation. Currently, the fire is burning at 2000-4500 elevation, northeast of Pine Flat Lake, west of the Spanish Mountain, south of Black Rock Rd (11S012) and north of the South Fork of the Kings River.

Updates are posted on Inciweb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casnf-basin-fire.

EVACUATIONS: There is a mandatory evacuation order for Fresno County zones K29, K30, K31, K40, K41 & K166. Evacuation warnings are in effect for zones K61 & K76. Check the Fresno County Evacuation map:

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e7d6006a016a444db8b210ac4d2eb5cf

 FOREST CLOSURE and FIRE RESTRICTIONS for the Basin Fire: To ensure the safety of the public and our firefighters, The Sierra National Forest has issued a Temporary Partial Forest Closure for the Basin Fire area. Effective June 30, 2024, the closure will remain in effect until July 30, 2024. We urge the public to respect all closure signs and barriers and to avoid the area to prevent any potential accidents or interference with firefighting efforts. 

Sierra National Forest has also implemented new temporary fire restrictions prohibiting campfires, welding, and smoking in non-developed campsites.