October 10th & 11th, the Sierra National Forest is allowing continued access by way of permit, for property retrieval and winterization. Southern California Edison requests all boats to be removed from Huntington Lake, to lower water levels.  
 

Prather, CA., October 08, 2020 – Due to the overwhelming response the decision was made last weekend to allow individuals affected by the Creek Fire the opportunity to take care of residences to clean out refrigerators, winterize cabins, and remove their boats, again the weekend of October 10th & 11th, 2020. The Sierra National Forest (SNF) High Sierra Ranger will allow individuals to enter temporarily to continue addressing their property needs. 
 

Southern California Edison (SCE) is asking all boat owners at the same time to remove their boats from Huntington Lake. SCE’s Incident Management Team is asking that boat owners come and remove their boats from Huntington Lake. Water levels will be lowered within the lake and all boats need to be removed prior to October 15th. We understand that many of the boats have already been removed, but we want to ensure that the date of the lake being lowered was well communicated.  
 

The SNF will allow roadblock access each of the two days from 8am - 5pm, The check-in for these days will be staged at each of the roadblock access points to areas where entry is to be made for that day. Link for Permit Information, - those who have already submitted their request you will not need to re-submit information, all applicants will need to bring with them two forms of identification, a valid driver’s license/identification and proof of property ownership (electric bill, or property deed). You will not receive your permit by email.  
 

October 10th & 11th, 2020 Access will be allowed by permit to the following locations:  

• From 8am – 5pm Access… McKinley Grove to Wishon to Courtright Roads. 

 • From 8am – 5pm Access… Dinkey and Rock Creek areas  

• From 8am – 5pm Access… Huntington Lake and Camp Sierra areas.  

• Boat pick up at Huntington Lake Boat Launch  
 

Trash services have not been restored. It will be the responsibility of each party to be prepared to pack out their own trash. Please leave no trace!  

You will be issued your permit at the entry meeting/checkpoint, and then allowed into the area to pick up your belongings, clean, close and winterize cabins as well as remove boats from Huntington Lake.  
 

We do understand that there is still a need for more dates to enter and accomplish winterization or evaluate damages. More dates for both ranger districts will be announced in the very near future.  
 

Those individuals who are working for the Creek Fire (fire personnel, contractors, and cooperators) must have proper identification for access beyond the checkpoints if they are not in a properly marked vehicle. 

Weather Information: 

Seasonally mild temperatures will remain present through the end of the week. A change in weather system will bring higher humidity which will influence fuels to gain moisture also. While measurable rainfall is not expected, the higher relative humidity will begin to slow the fire’s progress. Smoke will remain present overnight and in morning with general air quality improving in the afternoons as winds develop. Critical fire weather conditions are not expected through Saturday. 
 

Fresno County-SOUTH ZONE: 

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 this weekend, October 10 and 11. Please follow this link for more information on how to obtain an access permit. Permit Holder Access/Recreation Residence 
 

Crews conducted defensive firing operations around Florence Lake. Heavy resources are currently protecting property. Small clusters of homes and seasonal residences in the areas of Mono Hot Springs, Vermillion Resort, Muir Trail Ranch, Blayney Meadow and Florence Lake remain evacuated. Smoke will be seen in the general area as fire personnel continue to strengthen the fire perimeter. 
 

Moderately active fire behavior will produce smoke visible along Forest Road 80 between Kaiser Pass Road and Florence Lake. Smoke from other fires in the state has become apparent in the Central Valley adding to the poor air quality we are experiencing. 
 

Madera County-NORTH ZONE: 

Beasore Meadow Belonging Retrieval / Cabin Winterization clarification. 

Those seeking entry must meet at 9am at the Court House in Bass Lake on Thursday, October 8, to access the Beasore Meadow area. You must have proof of ownership or you will not be allowed in. Those who enter can leave at any time, no escort required, but once you leave, you will not be allowed back into the area. Additional date(s) will be available in the future, but none have been set at this time. 
 

You will need a valid ID and proof of ownership such as a property deed or utility bill with your name on it. 
 

Crews were able to complete fire line in the Little Shuteye Peak area Tuesday. Firefighters will continue to mop up and widen the line today with helicopter assistance as smoke allows. Additionally, snagging and cold trailing will continue to find any remaining heat in the vicinity. In Whisky Falls, crews completed five miles of chipping. Crews are finishing up with securing structures in Johnson Meadows. 
 

The Roads Group has completed the removal of hazard trees along the 81 corridor, which is now completely open. Now, crews are focusing on peripheral roads within the fire area. 
 

The fire is still 10 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. 
 

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." 

The fire is currently 328,603 acres, 49% contained, approximately 1,531 personnel assisting with fire suppression and logistical operations

Smoke will continue to be visible throughout the area. Weather will be changing to more seasonally average October temperatures.

Small clusters of homes and seasonal residences in the areas of Mono Hot Springs, Vermillion Resort, Muir Trail Ranch, Blayney Meadow, and Florence Lake remain evacuated. Smoke will be seen in the general area as fire personnel continue to strengthen the fire perimeter. Structure protection is in place and supporting the immediate needs of the community.

There will be a Fresno County Community meeting tomorrow night Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. You can view it either on Facebook live https://www.facebook.com/FresnoCountyCA or in person at Sierra High School (football field) 33326 Lodge Rd, Tollhouse, CA 93667.
 
View the full update (.pdf file) 

The fire is currently 328,595 acres, 49% contained, approximately 1,864 personnel assisting with fire suppression and logistical operations.

With an unstable atmosphere in lower sections and high probability of ignition forecasted, the fire continues to remain extremely active. We are asking everyone to use caution while traveling in and out of the area.

There will be a live stream Community Meeting at 7:00 PM tonight hosted on the Sierra National Forest Facebook Page. https://fb.me/e/4W9n65uFW

Weather Information:

Dry conditions will persist across the incident with afternoon humidity remaining in the teens during the day and poor humidity recovery overnight. Temperatures will remain a few degrees above average before cooling to right around seasonal averages by Thursday. Expect a little higher humidity both day and night over the next few days heading into the weekend. Terrain driven diurnal (daytime) slope flows will prevail. Smoke transport will follow diurnal slope winds with upslope transport during the afternoon and smoke returning to lower elevations with downslope/drainage flows overnight.

Fresno County-SOUTH ZONE:

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 this weekend, October 10 and 11. Please follow this link for more information on how to obtain an access permit. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=fseprd815384

Crews conducted firing operations from Pack Station toward Florence Lake. Small clusters of homes and seasonal residences in the areas of Mono Hot Springs, Vermillion Resort, Muir Trail Ranch, Blayney Meadow and Florence Lake remain evacuated.

Two spot fires occurred Monday in the Ansel Adams Wilderness on the northeast side of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. These spot fires did not move much yesterday and fire officials continue to monitor them and are looking for opportunities to safely engage.

Madera County-NORTH ZONE: 

Arnold Meadow and Beasore Meadow Belonging Retrieval / Cabin Winterization clarification.

Those seeking entry must meet at 9am at the Mill Site in North Fork on Wednesday for access to the Arnold Meadow area, or 9am at the Court House in Bass Lake on Thursday to access the Beasore Meadow area. You must have proof of ownership or you will not be allowed in. Those who enter can leave at any time, no escort required, but once you leave, you will not be allowed back into the area. Additional date(s) will be available in the future, but none have been set at this time.

You will need a valid ID and proof of ownership such as a property deed or utility bill with your name on it.

Crews were able to complete the fire line in the Little Shuteye Peak area yesterday. Firefighters will continue to mop up and widen the line today with helicopter assistance as smoke allows. A small spot fire near Globe Rock occurred yesterday. Crews are working to complete containment today in this area of heavy fuel. The Redtop area is now in patrol status. The southwest edge of the fire remains under patrol status and removal of hose used for suppression is close to completion.

The Roads Group has completed the removal of hazard trees along the 81 Road and is now focusing on peripheral roads within the fire area.

The fire is still 10 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.

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."

Creek Fire Virtual Community Meeting will be aired this evening starting at 7 PM on the Sierra National Forest Facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF

The fire is currently 326,706 acres, 49% contained, approximately 1,864 personnel assisting with fire suppression and logistical operations.

Emergency equipment and personnel continue to work in the area of Hwy 168 and Kaiser Pass Road near elephant point and White Bark Vista. All of Shaver Lake Community has been repopulated. Please be cautious and drive safely.

Currently, donations are being accepted at the Shaver Lake Community Center, 41344 Tollhouse Road Shaver Lake, between the hours of 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
 
View the full update (.pdf file)

The fire is currently 326,706 acres, 49% contained, approximately 1,991 personnel assisting with fire suppression and logistical operations.

There will be a Fresno County Community Meeting tonight Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. On line only– Facebook Live@FresnoCountyCA https://www.facebook.com/FresnoCountyCA

Weather Information:

High-pressure ridge overhead is weakening this week. Some higher-level clouds will be present. Temperatures will remain above average into mid-week. Expect slightly higher humidity both day and night; however, limited nighttime recovery will occur along mid to upper slopes. Winds remain primarily terrain-driven, with smoke transport likewise following diurnal winds upslope to up canyon during the afternoon and downslope/down drainage flow for overnights-early mornings. Smoke will tend to remain under an inversion around 5500 feet and lift in the afternoon. Somewhat better smoke transport should occur overnight at higher elevations.

Fresno County-SOUTH ZONE:

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 this weekend, October 10 and 11. Please follow this link for more information on how to obtain an access permit. Permit Holder Access/Recreation Residence

A successful firing operation was conducted near Kaiser Pass Road. Crews were able to

tie the firing operation into the main body of the fire. Expect moderate to locally intense

surface fire, isolated torching, and rollout to contribute to the active fire footprint.

Seasonally drought stressed fuels will continue to contribute to active fire behavior in all

size classes.

Two spot fires occurred yesterday in the Ansel Adams Wilderness on the northeast side of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. These spot fires were slow moving and fire officials are monitoring them and looking for opportunities to safely engage.

Madera County-NORTH ZONE: 

The Sierra National Forest will allow individuals who were evacuated from their homes in the North Zone of the fire an opportunity to return and collect their belongings again this weekend, October 10 and 11. Please follow this link for more information about temporary reentry to Arnold Meadows and Beasore Meadows, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7147/57578/
 

With the support of helicopter bucket drops, crews working in the area of Little Shuteye Peak have had success blocking the fire’s emergence from the granite and are close to bringing additional line into containment status. All night shifts were transitioned to day shifts over the past 24 hours. This brings an end to night operations for the North Zone. Fireline in the vicinity of Redtop is nearing patrol status and close to being added to containment figures.

Mastication operations have been a routine practice on all accessible firelines, allowing firefighters to turn highly combustive fuels into chips. Once these chips are scattered across the ground on the green (unburned side) of the fireline, they are less likely to contribute to open heat and flame.

The fire is still 10 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.

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."

The Sierra National Forest (SNF) Bass Lake Ranger District and Madera County Sheriff’s Office will allow individuals to enter temporarily to clean out and close cabins for the winter, in the Arnolds Meadow Community and Beasore Meadows Community.

For those who have already submitted their request you will not need to re-submit. All applicants will be required to bring with them two forms of identification, a valid driver’s license/identification and proof of property ownership (electric bill, or property deed).

The SNF will allow escorted access each for the following areas within the Bass Lake Ranger District, access will only be allowed by permit and only to the following locations:

• October 7th, 2020 - Meeting location for escort by Madera County Sheriff’s Office and Sierra National Forest will be 9:00am at Madera County Fire Station #11, old mill site at Douglas Station Road.
• October 10th, 2020 - Ending time of permit is 3:00pm, to be escorted out of area.
• This permit is only good for access to and from the Arnold Meadows Community and does not allow access to any other area within the Sierra National Forest. Access to other forest areas remains restricted per Forest Closure Order No. 05-15-00-20-15

• October 8th, 2020 - Meeting location for escort by Madera County Sheriff’s Office and Sierra National Forest will be 9:00am at Madera County Courthouse Bass Lake, Road 274.
• October 11th, 2020 - Ending time of permit is 3:00pm, to be escorted out of area.
• This permit is only good for access to and from the Beasore Meadows Community and does not allow access to any other area within the Sierra National Forest. Access to other forest areas remains restricted per Forest Closure Order No. 05-15-00-20-15

Trash services will not be provided, it will be the responsibility of each party to be prepared to pack out their own trash. Please leave no trace!

The time frames allotted will be strictly enforced, and should be used for the purpose intended, SNF law enforcement along with the sheriff’s office will sweep the area to be sure that no parties are deciding to recreate, loiter, or observe the burned areas of the Creek Fire.

To obtain more information regarding this and the permitting process please go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=fseprd815384, there you will find a page with all forms necessary as well as an email address to forward all requests. 
 

Due to an overwhelming response it is requested that the following form be filled out - Madera County BLRD Restricted Access Permit FS7700-48 and sent to the following email address SM.FS.sierranfinfo@usda.gov

The High Sierra Ranger District, will continue their process for re-entry this weekend October 10th & 11th 2020.

The SNF will allow roadblock access each of the two days from 7am - 1pm, If individuals arrive after 1pm access will not be permitted. The check-in for these days will be staged at each of the roadblock access points to areas where entry is to be made for that day.

• • From 7am – 5pm Access… McKinley Grove to Wishon to Courtright Roads.
• • From 7am – 5pm Access… Dinkey and Rock Creek areas
• • From 7am – 7pm Access… Huntington Lake and Camp Sierra areas.