Update 4/19: Due to unfavorable weather conditions forecasted early in the week, The Mammoth Lakes Ranger District is cancelling our proposed understory prescribed fire scheduled for the week of April 19.   The increase in forecasted winds, low relative humidity and drying of fuels will put us out of prescription. We will continue to look for opportunities, conditions permitting, to restore fire to the ecosystem in the coming weeks.

The Mammoth Lakes Ranger District is planning the Antelope prescribed fire project (fuel and weather dependent) starting April 19 through April 23, 2021. Ignitions should be completed early enough in the week to give enough burn down time so the opening day of Fishing Season will not be affected. Project size: 581 acres. Project location:  East of HWY 395, South and West of Owens River Road, and 5.5 miles Northeast of Mammoth Lakes. Unit is located along Forest Road 3S06.  

BISHOP, CA April 9th, 2021— Weather and air quality conditions permitting, fire crews plan to conduct the Antelope Prescribed Fire next week, starting as early as Sunday April 11, and continuing until the end of April as conditions allow.

This unit is east of Highway 395, near Smokey Bear Flat, and south of the Owens River Road. They are targeting to complete approximately 700 acres while favorable conditions permit. Crews are taking advantage of recent snowmelt and rain to safely conduct this prescribed fire before conditions become too dry.

This project is in Jeffrey pine forest and can be completed in smaller units if necessary, using the road system to define sub-unit perimeters. Crews will work with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District to ensure they take advantage of good smoke dispersal windows.

This area has seen previous mechanical thinning and forest debris pile burning, so these prescribed fires are the next step in restoring the natural fire cycle in the Jeffrey pine forest, which historically had a frequent fire cycle (about every 5-15 years). This will encourage biodiversity as well as help make the forest more resistant to fires of unnatural size and intensity.

Smoke may be visible at times from Highways 395, 158, and 203, as well as the communities of June Lake, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes, and Crowley Lake.

Tower Fire Update: April 12, 1330 hours
Location: approximately 6 miles north of Sanderson, Terrell County
Acreage: 80 acres
Containment: 100% 
Cause: Powerlines

The Tower Fire is 100% contained and has been turned back over to the local fire department to monitor.  

Tower Fire Update: April 12, 1330 hours
Location: approximately 6 miles north of Sanderson, Terrell County
Acreage: 80 acres
Containment: 85% 
Cause: Powerlines

 There are currently 11 personnel, 3 engines, 1 utv,  3 single engine air tankers (SEATs), and 1 air attack working to suppress and contain the Tower Fire. Fire behavior is mainly smoldering with interior fuels holding heat. Ground crews are continuing to secure the fire edge and mitigate any hot spots that are found while aviation resources assist with securing the heel of the fire and tie into the retardant drop lines and roads that were being worked off of yesterday.

Fire Weather: winds are North at 10-15 mph, RH is down to 17%.  

UPDATE

Mountainair Ranger District Continues to
Implement Thunderbird Prescribed Burn

Mountainair Ranger District Continues to
Implement Thunderbird Prescribed Burn

This will be the last update provided for this fire.
Acreage is 37 acres with containment at 95%.  
TFS resources are on scene this morning with local fire departments to check on condition of the fire and to work on any hot spots. Smoke will continue to be in the air due to heavy fuel located interior of the containment lines. Local fire department resources will continue to monitor and patrol as needed.

Current weather conditions: 73F, Winds S 6mph, Relative humidity at 77%. Relative humidity is forecasted to stay above 50% for the rest of the day with a high temperature of 78F. 

TFS resources have left the scene for this evening. Local resources will remain on scene throughout the night to patrol, monitor, and address any hot spots.

Containment lines have been created around the spot fire that occurred earlier this afternoon. Acreage for this fire has been updated to 37 acres, with containment at 95% as of this posting. 

There has been a single, small spot fire that was able to cross the containment lines created earlier today. TFS and local resources were on scene and prepared to address this spot fire quickly. Currently, there are two TFS dozers, a TFS UTV, two local fire department UTVs, a local fire department engine, a local fire department water tender, and multiple personnel across agencies on scene assisting with constructing and improving containment lines around this spot fire.  

 Fire acreage has been updated to approximately 36 acres at 75% containment. 

Current weather this evening: High of 87F, Winds at 7-8mph out of the South, Relative Humidity around 25-30%. 
Forecast: Temperature between 60-79F, Wind speeds between 7-10mph out of the South, Relative Humidity to reach 100% this evening.