Single Publication

Sierra National Forest                                 

Basin Fire Update             

Monday July 22, 2024                         

Information: (559) 855-5355

Email: 2024.basin@firenet.gov

Facebook: @SierraNF

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PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT:  90 personnel, 1 crew, 3 engines, 4 Heavy Equipment, 3 water tenders, 0 helos

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

A warming trend will bring high temperatures across the fire area this week, with temperatures in the 90s in the higher elevations and approaching 105 to 110 in the lower elevations. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect from Monday morning through Wednesday evening. Isolated mountain thunderstorms are possible each afternoon in the vicinity of the fire with the best chances east of the fire, over the Sierra Crest. Minimum relative humidity will be in the 20 to 35 percent range each day with poor to fair overnight recoveries and terrain driven winds. Winds are forecast to remain low, from the west at 9 mph, with gusts 15 mph to 20 mph this week. 

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, we expect this to be the last Basin Fire update.

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.