Creek Fire Update for October 4,2020

Incident Start Date: 09/04/2020 
Incident Start Time: 6:33 p.m.
Incident Type: Wildland Fire
Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Location: Both sides of the San Joaquin River near Mammoth Pool, Shaver Lake, Big Creek and Huntington Lake.
Forest/CAL FIRE Units: Sierra National Forest, CAL FIRE Units Fresno-Kings and Madera-Mariposa-Merced
Unified Command Agencies: Northern Rockies Team 4, CAL FIRE, California Team 5, Fresno and Madera County Sheriffs
Size: 315,413
Containment: 49%
Firefighter Injuries/Fatalities: 12 injuries
Expected Full Containment: 10/31/2020
Structures Threatened: 4,576
Structures Destroyed: 503*
Structures Damaged: 39*

Temporary Entry Permits:

The Sierra National Forest will allow individuals who were evacuated from campgrounds, camping areas and cabins in the South Zone of the fire an opportunity to return and collect their belongings again today, as well as next weekend, on October 10th and 11th. Additional dates and northern access will be added as requested permit numbers dictate. Please follow this link for more information on how to obtain an access permit.

Weather Information:

The strong and very warm high-pressure system will continue to slowly weaken over the next few days. However, temperatures will remain above seasonal average until mid-week. Low relative humidity will persist for the next few days, including very poor recoveries overnight for mid to upper elevations due to the thick thermal belt that is in place.

Winds will remain primarily terrain-driven, with smoke transport following diurnal winds upslope and up-canyon during the afternoons changing to downslope/down drainage during the nights and early mornings. As expanding fire fronts transition from backing to head fire through this slope reversal, even small terrain changes will support uphill runs, torching and short-range spotting. Smoke will remain trapped under an inversion around 5500 feet, but the inversion will not be quite as strong today and smoke may lessen in the afternoon as compared to recent days.

Fresno County-SOUTH ZONE:

Poor overall ventilation in the southern and lower eastern portions of the fire, will support smoke shading throughout the daylight hours. Fire activity near Edison Lake and Mono Hot Springs produced noticeable smoke, which will impact Kaiser Pass Road towards the North East portion of the fire. Conditions remain constant related to the south area’s expected fire activity.

Madera County-NORTH ZONE:

Fire lines east of North Fork are now in patrol status with more than 10 miles of hose retrieved from those lines. Crews are looking at opportunities to work directly on the uncontained fire perimeter north and east of Bass Lake. Good success with containment has also been achieved along north west areas of the fire (Red Top) where active gridding (fire fighters moving through the area ensuring embers in the duff located and extinguished) and mop up are ongoing. The structure group is nearing completion of assessments in the upper 81 Road corridor, but needed to relocate yesterday due to heavy smoke, spending time in the Johnson and Arnold Meadows gridding for smoldering spots.

Removal of hazardous standing dead trees (“snagging”) continued along roads within and adjacent to the fire area. Crews are currently working in the Portuguese Creek and Strawberry Mine areas now that the southern portions of the 81 Road have been completed. Structure protection and assessments are also ongoing.

The fire is still 10-12 miles west of Mammoth Lakes, little forward progression is occurring due to the natural barriers of rock and the Lions Fire (2018) burn scar. Conditions continue to be monitored very closely. Additional information is available via the Sierra National Forest Facebook page, or the following link:

https://creek-fire-preparednessmonomammoth.hub.arcgis.com

Cattle in and around the fire area are being rounded up and moved. Be aware of cattle, those working with them, fire personnel and other hazardous conditions when returning to the fire impacted area once it re-opens.

Please respect the Temporary Flight Restriction. The use of drones is not permitted over the fire area. A drone incursion will result in the grounding of all firefighting aircraft. Remember, "If you fly - We can't."