Single Publication

Start Date: September 9, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Size: 97,514
Percent Containment: 75
Helicopters: 16
Engines: 69
Crews: 35
Dozers: 10
Total Personnel: 1,506

CURRENT SITUATION: The Great Basin Incident Management Team 6 (GB-IMT 6) transitioned today with California Interagency Incident Management Team 5.

With containment lines holding on most of the fire perimeter, GB-IMT 6 is committing many resources on three sections where the fire is most active: in the west, on the Tule River Indian Reservation between Cold Springs Creek and County Road J42; in the east, between Tobias Creek and Ant Canyon; and in the north, between Coy Creek and the Bear Creek tributary. A group begins today to open firefighter access to sequoia groves in the fire interior and to assess their condition.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: A strong cold front moving into the area from the west today brings a chance of light precipitation, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity. The chance of measurable rain is greatest on the western slopes, though it is not expected to be a wetting rain that significantly impacts fire behavior. Daily smoke outlooks are available at https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/SouthernSierra-Sequoia.

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 Inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7841 and Facebook @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, west to M107 and M50

  Sheriff Boudreaux on Wednesday downgraded an evacuation order to an evacuation warning for the McNallys area. This affects Sherman Pass Road to Corral Creek and includes the community of R Ranch, Forest Service roads, dirt roads, access roads, attached roads, and campgrounds. A roadblock is in effect at M99 and R Ranch and at M50 and M107.

  According to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, evacuation warnings remain in the following areas:

  Both sides of the Kern River from the Goldledge Campground south to Riverkern, Tulare County, at the Tulare/Kern border. This warning will include 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 M-504 at Tyler Creek, Southeast to Pine Flat, west to M-56 and Fire Control Road, north up Tyler Creek Road. This includes structures, side roads, and all attached roads

• M99 and R Ranch and M50 and M107

  ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: Updates on road closures can be found on Inciweb at Inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7841 and Facebook @SequoiaNF.

  The following roads are closed:

• At Jack Ranch Road and Old Stage Road

• Quaking Aspen and M107

• MT56 at Fountain Springs

• M50 at the Hot Springs Ranger Station for northbound traffic

• Forest Service Road 23S05