Single Publication

The Windy Fire is 6849 acres with 0% containment.  It is burning on the Tule River Indian Reservation and in Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County. The fire grew yesterday afternoon to the east towards Windy Gap crossing the Western Divide Highway (M107) and south to Johnsondale, Camp Whitsitt and Long Meadow Grove. 

While cooler temperatures are expected over the fire area, windy conditions will also increase today and through the weekend. The terrain is steep, and like most of California, the vegetation is extremely dry.  This fire is actively backing downslope with burning logs rolling downhill causing uphill runs.  Firefighters are preparing existing roads as fire breaks and working at the fire’s edge when safe.  This is a full suppression fire.

The Windy Fire has burned through a portion of the Peyrone Grove that straddles the Tule River Indian Reservation and the Giant Sequoia National Monument.  Yesterday it reached the edge of and skirted along the Long Meadow Grove.  Several other groves are threatened by this fire.  While low intensity fires can be beneficial to giant sequoia trees, high intensity fires are not.  A damage assessment will be done in these groves when it is safe to do so.

Virtual Public Meeting Today at 6PM

Representatives from the Sequoia National Forest and cooperating agencies will be updating residents and others interested in the progress of firefighting efforts on the Windy Fire during a Facebook Live Meeting today. It will be broadcast on the Sequoia National Forest Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF/ . Please submit questions in advance prior to 4 p.m. via email to 2021.windy@firenet.gov We will try to provide answers to your questions during the meeting. 

Road Closures – Western Divide Highway (M107) is closed at North Road (21S50) intersection near Quaking Aspen Campground to M50 above California Hot Springs.  M99 is closed above Kernville at Sherman Pass (22S05) intersection.

Evacuations Warnings and Orders:

Tulare County Sheriff has issued an Evacuation Warning for the community of Ponderosa and Quaking Aspen. The area of warning includes M107 at Dome Rock, north to HWY 190/M90 at North Road (21S50), east to Route 21S05, at Needles Trail, south to Lloyd Meadow at Lower Peppermint Road (22S82). Should you choose to evacuate now, avoid all road closures and use HWY 190 to Porterville.

Evacuation ORDERS remain in effect for Johnsondale and Camp Whitsett, including M107 at Dome Rock, east to Lloyd Meadow Road (22S82), south to M99 at Sherman Pass Road, west to M107 and M50.

The temporary evacuation point, where you may find information and assistance, is at Porterville College, 100 E. College Ave. Individuals who may need assistance evacuating may call 2-1-1. Older individuals (60+) who need assistance with evacuation or information may call the senior hotline at 1-800-321-2462.

Please refer to https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ or call 2-1-1 for more information.

Sequoia National Forest officials have expanded the Forest closure area due to the fire burning across the Western Divide Highway north of Johnsondale.  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 closure area near White River. The northern edge ties in with the Castle Fire closure area near Ponderosa.  M 99, coming from Kernville is closed near Johnsondale Bridge. Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia for more information and a map of the closed areas.

Emergency Notification Alerts:  Tulare County residents can sign up to receive county emergency notifications by registering at AlertTC.com.

Smoke Advisory information on areas surrounding the Windy Fire