Single Publication

Start Date: 9/9

Cause: Lightning

Size: 97,554

Percent Containment: 88

Helicopters:  12

Engines: 39

Crews: 26

Dozers: 7

Total Personnel: 904

CURRENT CONDITIONS: Fire crews spent Monday patrolling and monitoring the Windy Fire containment lines to ensure they would hold against strong winds forecast for late morning to early evening. Predicted gusts exceeding 45 miles per hour did not occur near the fire area. Wind-driven dust created significant haze across the fire and in mountain foothills; this contributed to lower wind speeds on the ground in the fire area. Heavier fuels remaining in timbered stands and smoldering vegetation left from past fires continued burning at low intensity.

On the northern flank, firefighters will continue removing hazard trees and extinguishing isolated areas of heat. Similar work will be done on the southern flank in preparation for lifting evacuation orders in the Sugarloaf communities. On the eastern perimeter, firefighters aim to prevent fire growth into the Kern River Valley. On the western side, resource advisors will accompany crews that are cleaning up and reinforcing perimeter lines. In the sequoia groves, firefighters will continue efforts to prevent further fire damage.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Dry and cool conditions prevailed overnight Monday. Dry and warming temperatures are expected to lower humidities for the remainder of the week as the area transitions from today’s northwest wind.

TULARE COUNTY RESIDENT INFORMATION: Residents requesting information on the status of their property can call the Tulare County Information Hotline at (559) 802-9790. Affected property owners should complete the September Lightning Fire Information Form online at: https://bit.ly/3ETdZjI. Residents can sign up to receive county emergency notifications by registering at AlertTC.com.  

EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS: Because evacuation orders and warnings change often as fire containment grows, evacuees should refer to the Windy Fire Evacuation Warning Map at https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ or call 211 for the latest information. Evacuation updates can be found on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7841 or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF/.

According to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, evacuation orders are in effect in the following areas:

• White River Summer Home Tract, Sugarloaf Saw Mill, Sugarloaf Mountain Park.

• Mountain Aire and Rogers Camp.

• Johnsondale and Camp Whitsett, including M107 at Dome Rock, east to Lloyd Meadow Road (Forest Service Road 22S82), south to M99 at Sherman Pass Road, and west to M107 and M50. A roadblock prevents access to M99 and R Ranch and M50 and M107.

All roads within the Windy fire perimeter are closed, including Parker Pass (M50) between Johnsondale and California Hot Springs and the Western Divide Highway (M107) South of Ponderosa to the M50 Junction

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation warnings for the following roads and areas:

• The McNallys area (Sherman Pass Road to Corral Creek, the community of R Ranch, structures, Forest Service roads, dirt roads, access roads, attached roads, and campgrounds).

• Both sides of the Kern River from the Goldledge Campground south to Riverkern, Tulare County, and at the Tulare/Kern border. This warning includes all private properties, businesses, residences, structures, campsites, campgrounds, Forest Service roads, access roads, attached roads, and trails.

• Alpine Village, Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Coy Flat, Pierpoint, Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa, and Sequoia Crest.

• Sugarloaf Village, Panorama Heights, Poso Park, Idlewild, Pleasant View, Balance Rock, Posey, and Vincent Ranch. The boundaries will be from Sugarloaf Peak west to Buck Peak; south to Vincent Ranch at the Tulare/Kern County line; east to Forest Service Road 24S07; and north to Sugarloaf Peak.

• California Hot Springs and Pine Flat areas. The evacuation order includes M504 at Tyler Creek, southeast to Pine Flat, west to M56 and Fire Control Road, and north up Tyler Creek Road. This includes structures, side roads, and all attached roads.

ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: Updates on road closures can be found on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7841 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF/.

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST AREA CLOSURE: The west side is closed on M50 where it reaches the Forest boundary near California Hot Springs. The southern edge ties in with the northern perimeter of the French Fire closed area near White River. The northern edge ties in with the Castle Fire closed area near Ponderosa.  M 99, coming from Kernville, is closed near Johnsondale Bridge. A full description and map can be found on Inciweb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7841/67270/.

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