Single Publication

Sierra National Forest                          

Basin Fire Update             

Friday July 19, 2024                          

Information: (559) 855-5355

Email: 2024.basin@firenet.gov

Facebook: @SierraNF

PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT:  132 personnel, 1 crew, 3 engines, 0 helicopters, 12 Heavy Equipment, and 7 water tenders 

CURRENT SITUATION: The Basin Fire is 14,023 acres.  Fire Containment 100% effective today. 

A gradual warming trend continues in the fire area the rest of this week and into next week.  An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect Monday morning through Thursday morning. Isolated mountain thunderstorms are possible over the next several days, with best chances east of the fire. Daytime relative humidity will be 20% to 30%, with poor to moderate overnight recoveries, and mostly terrain driven winds. Temperatures today are expected to reach the high nineties in lower elevations of the fire area and raise slightly over the following five days. Winds are forecast to remain low, from the southwest at 9 mph, with gusts to 17 mph over the next five days.

Suppression Repair:  Suppression repair efforts continue throughout the fire area. Firefighters are using heavy equipment and hand tools to return fire areas to as natural a state as practical.

The Basin Fire started on June 26, 2024, and the cause is currently under investigation.  The fire is at 2000-4500 feet 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. 

Fire updates are posted on Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casnf-basin-fire.  With 100% fire containment and full firefighter focus on suppression repair within the fire area, the next Update and maps will be July 22, 2024.

 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 Orders No. 05-15-52-24-19 & 20 for the Basin Fire area. Effective July 10, 2024, the closure will remain in effect until July 31, 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 suppression repair efforts. 

Check https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra for the Basin Fire closure area map. Roads & trails in this area on the Sierra National Forest are CLOSED.

The Sierra National Forest has implemented temporary fire restrictions prohibiting campfires except within designated recreation sites. Operating vehicles off roads or trails is prohibited, and welding is prohibited.  Smoking is only allowed in vehicles, buildings and designated recreation sites. 

Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra for more information or call the Sierra National Forest (559) 855-5355 during business hours for questions.