Single Publication

Quarry Fire Update  
Friday, October 20th, 2023  

Stanislaus National Forest  
Incident Management Team (Type-3)  

PIO Contact:
Phyllis Ashmead - phyllis.ashmead@gmail.com

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: 8,080
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 44%
Total Personnel: 53

Current Activities: Yesterday, the fire on Cherry Ridge continued to naturally spread, consuming vegetation within timber stringers as it moves towards the Bone Fire area that burned this summer.  Crews utilized Unmanned Aerial System (UAS/drone) for aerial ignitions near the Box Springs trailhead backing fire down towards the natural control feature of Lily Creek. Crews continued patrolling the east side of the natural control feature of Rock Creek, ensuring fire holds along this boundary.

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 encourage 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 soft closures, recognizing that fire personnel and public safety is the focus. 

As of October 20th, 2023, the following soft closures are in effect: 

3N17 where it meets 3N29

3N16

Smoke: An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the Quarry Fire and will be producing a daily Smoke Outlook. 

The amount of smoke in the air is carefully planned for. The team is 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.

Waterhouse:  There is still active fire in sheltered and jackpot fuels, fire current size is 55.6 acres Fire is on partial containment line and meadow. 

Peak:  There is still active fire in sheltered and jackpot fuels, fire current size is 132.1 acres. The fire crossed 5N31. With many natural barriers, this gives fire fighters the opportunity to build more containment boxes going forward, continuing to allow the fire to mimic natural progression.   

The Waterhouse and Peak Fire are being managed with a confine and contain strategy in a 13-year old burn scar.

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