Single Publication

Quarry Fire Update  
Wednesday, October 11th, 2023  

Stanislaus National Forest  
Incident Management Team (Type-3)  

PIO Contacts:
Phyllis Ashmead - phyllis.ashmead@gmail.com
steve lyon - slyon@nps.gov

Fire Statistics:
Location: The Quarry Fire is located on the Stanislaus National Forest, Mi-Wok Ranger District, off Forest Road 3N01, east of Bourland Creek and near the Emigrant Wilderness west of Cherry Creek.
Acres Burned to Date: 6,553
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 41%
Total Personnel: 79

Current Activities: Yesterday, crews conducted a combination of ground and aerial ignitions using unmanned aerial system (drone) burning in the area west of Bourland Mountain and between Rock Creek and Lily Creek. They cleaned up existing areas of unburned pockets of fuels and looked for opportunities to expand the fire’s foot print. 

Background: The Quarry fire was one of 42 fires ignited by lightning strikes across the forest on September 9, 2023.  District fire managers immediately worked to ensure these naturally ignited fires stayed within pre-determined boundaries. Fire personnel with the Stanislaus National Forest are currently managing the Quarry Fire to achieve multiple resource objectives.  

Closures: Soft closures are in effect to provide for the safety of the public utilizing public lands as well as fire personnel working in the area.  The soft closures are an encouragement for the public to stay clear of the area, to find alternate routes to their locations and to provide fire personnel the widest berth possible as they go about their mission. 

With the public’s cooperation, we will continue to monitor the number and duration of each, recognizing that fire personnel and public safety is the focus. 

As of October 10, 2023, the following soft closures are in effect: 
2N71 where it meets 3N16
3N21 where it meets 3N16
3N21 where it meets 3N01
3N22 where it meets 3N01
3N17 where it meets 3N29
3N29 to 3N29C
3N16
3N34Y
3N01H
3N01J
3N01L

Smoke: The amount of smoke in the air is carefully planned for. Burn Bosses are in close alignment with and get approvals from the Tuolumne County Pollution Control District (link) each day to burn the maximum amount of acreage that will not negatively impact air quality to an unsafe level. Additionally, firefighters monitoring smoke are staged around the vicinity of the fire to adjust tactics to minimize smoke impacts.

If possible, minimize outdoor activity if you are sensitive to smoke. Smoke does tend to settle in low-lying areas in the evenings to the mornings, so camping and recreating in this vicinity is not advised. To check air quality, visit fire.airnow.gov.

More Information: 
INCIWEB - Quarry Fire Info - https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/castf-2023stfquarry-fire
Stanislaus National Forest – Official Website - https://www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus 
Air Quality Info - http://fire.airnow.gov