Single Publication

Slow Growth Continues on the Sheering Fire

ACREAGE: 485

PERCENT CONTAINED: 12%

TOTAL PERSONNEL: 148
Fire Resources include: 6 Hand Crews, 1 Helicopter, 4 Engines, 1 Dozer, 1 Water Tender
 

CURRENT SITUATION: The eastern flank of the fire adjacent to Forest Road 3N01 experienced more active yesterday. Hand crews burned from Forest Road 3N01 back into the fire, widening the containment line and burning out some of the remaining interior fuel pockets. Most of the fire continues to experience low to moderate fire behavior and a slow rate of spread. Dozer line has been completed on the southeast side of the fire. Hand crews working from the west side of the fire were able to connect the line from Forest Road 2N29 and out of Bourland Creek to the dozer line. The fire is still hung up in the Lost Creek drainage with little forward progression. The high numbers of standing dead trees remains a threat to fire lines and fire fighters.

Today crews will continue to hold and improve the fire lines, including felling snags and mopping up to widen the lines. The plan also includes putting in hose lays along Forest Road 2N85 and the southern dozer line to further secure these areas.
 

BACKGROUND: The Sheering Fire started on June 24, 2024, at approximately 7:19 pm. It was one of several fires that resulted from an unusual lightning event that moved through the area that day. In addition to the Sheering Fire, two fires were ignited in the Clavey River drainage which is where the 2013 Rim Fire started. Because of their location and the known potential for those fires to become large quickly, they were the top
priority for fire resources, including air support. They were fully contained and then additional resources moved to the Sheering Fire which has burned with low to moderate intensity and a slow rate of spread over the past 10 days.
 

The Sheering Fire has been a full suppression fire from the beginning. It is located within the 2013 Rim Fire and has many old standing dead trees which makes it a higher risk for firefighters trying to put in handline and mop up into the burn area. Public and firefighter safety is the Forest Service’s highest priority. Because of this fire’s location, its slow rate of spread and its mostly low intensity fire behavior, fire managers have been able to utilize existing roads and natural features for containment lines in several locations around the fire perimeter, protecting both fire fighters and resources in the area.
 

For more information contact Forest Public Affairs Officer, Benjamin Cossel at 209-288-6261 or at Benjamin.Cossel@usda.gov.