2-1-1 ASSISTS WITH DISPLACED PERSONS FROM SQF COMPLEX FIRE

VISALIA, CA – Families who have been displaced by the SQF Complex Fire and need placement are now able to call 2-1-1 for assistance.

2-1-1 personnel are ready to assist with a warm transfer to place community members in hotels.

Please call 2-1-1 with questions.

For questions about the fire, please call (559) 697-5148.

CAL FIRE MEDIA

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Contact: Incident Information Line: (916) 618-3195, Media Line (559) 635-8206

Release Date: September 16, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
 

WEST CASTLE ZONE / EAST CASTLE ZONE

SQF COMPLEX

 

Current Issues with Media, California Penal Code 409.5

Porterville – The Tulare County Sheriff, CAL FIRE, USDA Forest Service and National Park Service appreciate the vast majority of media partners who have cooperated with deputies and fire personnel and acted responsibly during this fire incident. It has come to our attention that a few members of the media have been impeding the progress of the firefighting effort and going on to private property without permission of the property owner. This activity cannot and will not be tolerated. Action will be taken if it persists.

We have been professional in our cooperation of providing access to areas and we expect the same level of professionalism and adherence to the rules from our media partners. State law (Penal Code section 409.5, please review here) grants the right of duly authorized members of the media to enter evacuated areas. It is widely understood that media personnel assume the risks involved when entering a closed area, and they cannot accept that liability on behalf of others. As an example, media cannot enter crime scenes, National Forest System lands under a Forest or Regional Order closing forest trails, roads or areas, or onto private property without prior permission. Nor can they impede the firefighting efforts of any fire incident.

It is our desire to help our media partners get the information they need to share with the public, however we will not tolerate blatant disregard for firefighter safety. The first responders appreciate those members of the media who adhere to the rules, and we know that there are only a small percentage of media personnel who are unaware of or disregard the rules and laws.

We ask that you share this information with your media partners. It is our desire to allow news organizations to share information without placing the first responders and the public in unnecessary danger.

East Castle Zone SQF Complex

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 16, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

 East Castle Zone Information Line: (559) 697-5148, 8 AM-8 PM   

East Castle Zone Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/

East Castle Zone Email: sqfcomplex2020@gmail.com

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF     www.facebook.com/inyonf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countyoftulare  

Twitter: @sequoiaforest and @Inyo_NF

Evacuation Info: www.alerttc.com
 
 

West Castle Zone Information Line: (916) 618-3195

West Castle Zone Media Line: (559) 635-8206

West Castle Zone Website: www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents

West Castle Zone Email Updates (sign up): https://tinyurl.com/SQFComplexWest

Evacuation Info: www.alerttc.com

Facebook:  @CALFIRE_TUU      Twitter: @CALFIRETUU

Incident Statistics

Location: 25 miles N of Kernville, CA

Date of origin: 8/19/20  

Cause: Lightning

Size: 114,320 acres         

Containment: 12%

Cost: $28.6 million          

Injuries: 14

Civilians evacuated: 3,183

Structures threatened: 1,683

Structures destroyed: 105

Resources

Hand Crews: 14

Engines: 70

Water-tenders: 19          

Dozers: 11

Helicopters: 23 

Personnel: 1001
 

Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority as we continue to battle this blaze.  On September 14, Northern Rockies Team 1 joined forces with CAL FIRE Team 6 in Unified Command.  Yesterday, September 15, Sequoia National Park also became an integral part of the Unified Command structure.  Although the fire perimeter will be divided into a West Zone and an East Zone we come together as ONE Team to share resources and implement strategies to protect life safety and values at risk.

 

Today at 7:00 a.m., CAL FIRE Team 6 took command of the West Zone of the Castle Fire.

 

EAST CASTLE ZONE SQF COMPLEX:  Acreages are 113,498 acres for the Castle Fire and 822 acres for Shotgun fire, for a total of 114,320 acres. The complex is currently 12% contained.

 

Castle Fire: The priority for the Castle fire is the continued firefighting effort around communities that are on the southwestern area of the fire. On Tuesday, the fire aligned itself to go towards Ponderosa from both northeast and northwest.  Firefighting efforts continued through the night, providing structure protection.  A burnout operation to create a black buffer from the progressing fire is currently being completed around the community of Ponderosa. Actions will be implemented to 190. 

 

The fire also aligned with fuels south of 190 and will continue to impact Camp Nelson through today. Air resources continue to be used heavily in the area. On Tuesday alone, 100,000 gallons of retardant were used from the mobile retardant base at Camp Nelson. The CAL FIRE team worked on the northwest corner of the fire, near the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest.

 

In Sequoia National Park, crews have completed structure protection work on the Kern Canyon Ranger station. On the east side of the fire, crews continue to construct direct fireline as the fire progresses towards Beach Meadows and will continue to work around the point of the fire finger. 

 

The SQF Complex is the top priority fire in southern California. Nationally, over 31,000 personnel are engaged in the nation’s wildland firefighting efforts.

 

Shotgun Fire:  The fire continues to exhibit low intensity surface fire and is currently 822 acres. 

 

Weather: Relative humidity levels will be extremely low which will result in fire behavior early today and through the night. An upper trough will approach the California coast on Wednesday, as this system approaches, the ridge winds will become more southwesterly through the day. Thursday’s weather will bring slightly cooler temperatures and a slight chance for a shower. Winds will become gusty out of the west-southwest on Friday. 

 

Smoke: Continued smoke will be in the area. For current air quality, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

 

Evacuations and Closures:

• Evacuation Orders and Warnings Tulare County may be found at https://www.facebook.com/countyoftulare. 
• Tulare County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications at alerttc.com.  
• The Red Cross has evacuation centers at Porterville Community College and the North Exeter Community Building. Also, call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or https://tinyurl.com/yafetgkj
• All National Forests in California are currently closed as of September 9, 2020.
• Sequoia National Park has a full park closure, Kings Canyon National Park remains open at this time.
• The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Office has issued a temporary emergency closure.
• For current information on California Highways, visit https://dot.ca.gov/ . Other road closures may be in effect.
• The current Temporary Flight Restriction (9/15/20) may be found by clicking here. The use of drones over the fire is also prohibited.

 

Priorities include: Communities listed in the above evacuation orders, Casa Vieja, Blackrock Ranger Station, Rogers Camp, Beach Meadows, Monache Meadows, structures along the Lloyd Meadows Road, Freeman Grove, the President George H.W. Bush Tree, Camp Whitsett, archeological values, Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog and Little Kern Golden Trout Critical Habitats, Pacific Fisher habitats, OSA, Beach, and Beck Meadows, trailheads and facilities.

 

 

Smoke Outlook for 9/16 - 9/17

Southern Sierra - Sequoia : SQF Complex

Issued at: 2020-09-16 08:04 PDT

Smoke

Yesterday, smoke within Outlook area was mostly Unhealthy.

The exception was Keeler and Kennedy Meadows. Today thru

Saturday, smoke's effect on air quality is projected to

deteriorate further. The Tule River and Kerr River drainages

serve as major conduits for smoke travel into lower elevations.

With S-SW ridge winds, most of the smoke stays in the Sierras.

This smoke production period is exceptionally high.

Special Notes

Outlooks reflect particulate matter impacts on air quality.

Review your closest monitoring station when planning outdoor

activities. Roadway Visibility can be affected. Drive with care.

 How to check  if you're in an evacuation zone on the Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex).

Visit the link below to enter your address.


 https://tularecounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7cad54ed8353491cb395ff1b3055045a&fbclid=IwAR1fQPdBN6ATC216tf7i0U_9F4Cg72K53fR_SQOfxMjBhb5Sub3XgN4YYWw

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TEMPORARILY CLOSES CASE MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office has issued a temporary emergency closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area near the town of Three Rivers in Tulare County due to the proximity of the Sequoia Complex Fire (SQF Complex). The closure is effective immediately and remains in effect until further notice.

The closure prohibits all forms of public access to the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area, which is comprised of 20,000 acres of public land located south of State Route 198 and supports the only BLM-managed giant sequoia groves. This closure is necessary to protect public land visitors from risks associated with active wildland fire and suppression operations, as well as post-fire suppression repair, emergency stabilization, and burned area rehabilitation efforts that will help repair damage to recreational and natural resources. The closure is also needed to protect wildland firefighters from recreational activities, including hunting of wild game. The closure order can be found online at https://go.usa.gov/xGX4q.

The SQF Complex Fire is comprised of the Castle and Shotgun fires, which has burned nearly 90,000 acres in the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests and is approximately 12 percent contained. The fire is being managed by a Type 1 Incident Command Team for the Sequoia National Forest. The latest information, including road closures and mandatory evacuation orders and warnings, is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/ or follow #SQFComplex on social media. To sign up for daily updates, email sqfcomplex2020@gmail.com.

Outdoor recreationists are reminded that open flame of any kind is prohibited on all BLM-managed public lands in California. The BLM has also temporarily suspended target shooting on public lands in Central California and fire restrictions are in effect within the Bakersfield Field Office jurisdiction. An interactive map and listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM California is available at https://go.usa.gov/xmUEG.

For more information on the SQF Complex Fire, call 559-697-5148 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For specific questions on the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area closure, please call 661-391-6000 during normal business hours.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in the 11 Western states and Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.

Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) Fire Update

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 15, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander
 

Fire Information: 559-697-5148, 8 AM-8 PM

Email: sqfcomplex2020@gmail.com

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF     www.facebook.com/inyonf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countyoftulare  

Twitter: @sequoiaforest and @Inyo_NF

 

Incident Statistics

Location: 25 miles N of Kernville, CA

Date of origin: 8/19/20  

Cause: Lightning

Size: 107,101 acres         

Containment: 12%

Cost: $25.4 million          

Injuries: 14

Civilians evacuated: 3,483

Structures threatened: 1,683

Structures destroyed: 104

 

Resources

Hand Crews: 12

Engines: 62

Water-tenders: 19          

Dozers: 5

Helicopters: 8   

Personnel: 819

 

The fire area remains dangerous to enter and assess damages. Firefighters remain actively engaged in providing protection to structures that have not been impacted. Tulare County building officials will be notifying property owners of structure losses.

The evacuation status of local communities can change rapidly. Tulare County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications at alerttc.com. If you feel that your life and property are in danger, do not wait for an evacuation notice. Residents who are not yet in an evacuation warning should prepare and think about the 5 P’s of evacuation: People & Pets, Prescriptions, Paper, Personal Needs and Priceless Items. 

 

The Sequoia Complex is under the Unified Command between the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 and CAL FIRE. CAL FIRE Team 6 will take command of the west side of the fire on September 16. “A lot of hard firefighting is ahead of us and we are working to provide critical community protection,” said Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander. “We welcome CAL FIRE Team 6 and look forward to working as a Team of One and doing our best with them in this firefight.”

 

As of September 15, Sequoia National Park is closed; Kings Canyon National Park remains open at this time.

Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: Acreages are 106,282 acres for the Castle Fire and 819 acres for Shotgun fire, for a total of 107,1010 acres. The complex is currently 12% contained.

 

Castle Fire: The western flank continues to be the top priority and is still exhibiting active fire behavior. Yesterday, a large spot in Jenny Creek caused additional evacuations northwest of the fire area. On Monday, crews continued work on constructing indirect line from Quaker and Aspen Meadow south to the Kern River.  The fire has crossed 190 near Cedar Slope in multiple areas. Through the night, firefighters worked in Doyle Springs. Today, crews will continue to gather situational awareness and work to put together a plan from south of Cedar Slope to Coy Flat. Structure protection is being enacted for local communities, with point protection and defense being the priority. Crews are preparing for the fire’s likely movement towards Ponderosa and Camp Nelson, and to maintain the viability of 190.

 

Crews continue to make progress on the eastern finger of the fire between Little Horse Meadows and Lion Meadows. Despite additional growth on that area, crews are still able to construct direct line. Structure preparation on the eastern flank of the fire is nearly complete, and crews plan to wrap up structure protection north around the Kern Canyon Ranger Station.

 

Aerial resources continue to be used heavily on the fire with 237,000 gallons of retardant being dropped on Sunday, September 13th.

 

Shotgun Fire:  The fire continues to exhibit low intensity surface fire and is currently 819 acres.  

 

Weather: Hot and dry conditions will continue on Tuesday with mainly clear skies and southerly winds along the ridges. High temperatures will range from 83 to 92 degrees and relative humidity levels in the upper teens. Similar conditions will persist on Wednesday with slightly cooler temperatures on Thursday.

 

Smoke: An increase in high level smoke from surrounding fires could increase on Tuesday. For current air quality, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Evacuations and Closures:

• Current Evacuation Orders and Warnings Tulare County may be found at https://www.facebook.com/countyoftulare.  Tulare County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications at alerttc.com.  
• The Red Cross has reopened an evacuation center at Porterville Community College and opened an evacuation center at the North Exeter Community Building. For further evacuation assistance, call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or https://tinyurl.com/yafetgkj
• Park and Campgrounds closures: Potwisha Campground in Sequoia National Park; Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest; Tulare County’s Balch Park Campground; and all the campgrounds within the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests.  
• All National Forests in California are currently closed as of September 9, 2020.
• Sequoia National Park has a full park closure, Kings Canyon National Park remains open at this time.
• The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Office has issued a temporary emergency closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area near the town of Three Rivers.
• For current information on California Highways, visit https://dot.ca.gov/ . Other road closures may be in effect.
• The current Temporary Flight Restriction for the Sequoia Complex may be found by clicking here. The use of drones over the fire is also prohibited.  

 

Priorities include: Communities listed in the above evacuation orders, Casa Vieja, Blackrock Ranger Station, Rogers Camp, Beach Meadows, Monache Meadows, structures along the Lloyd Meadows Road, Freeman Grove, the President George H.W. Bush Tree, Camp Whitsett, archeological values, Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog and Little Kern Golden Trout Critical Habitats, Pacific Fisher habitats, OSA, Beach, and Beck Meadows, trailheads and facilities.

Regional Order No. 20-11

USDA Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region

Emergency Fire Restrictions

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a), and to provide for public safety and protect

natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the

Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from September 15, 2020, through September

21, 2020.

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.

36 C.F.R. 261.52(a).

2. Smoking. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(c).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,

or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this

Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting

force in the Performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,

Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an

individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Done at Vallejo, California, this 14th day of September 2020.

X

Signed by: RANDY MOORE

RANDY MOORE

Regional Forester

Pacific Southwest Region

Regional Order No. 20-12

USDA Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region

Emergency Forest Closure
 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(b), and to provide for public safety and protect

natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the

Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from September 15, 2020, through September

21, 2020.
 

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests

listed below.

a. Inyo National Forest

b. Sierra National Forest

c. Sequoia National Forest

d. Stanislaus National Forest

e. Los Padres National Forest

f. Angeles National Forest

g. San Bernardino National Forest

h. Cleveland National Forest

36 C.F.R. 261.52(e).

2. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.

a. Inyo National Forest

b. Sierra National Forest

c. Sequoia National Forest

d. Stanislaus National Forest

e. Los Padres National Forest

f. Angeles National Forest

g. San Bernardino National Forest

h. Cleveland National Forest

36 C.F.R. 261.54(e).

3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.

a. Inyo National Forest

b. Sierra National Forest

c. Sequoia National Forest

d. Stanislaus National Forest

e. Los Padres National Forest

f. Angeles National Forest

g. San Bernardino National Forest

h. Cleveland National Forest

36 C.F.R. 261.55(a).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,

or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this

Order

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting

force in the Performance of an official duty.

3. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to

conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest

products, or grazing livestock.

4. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.

5. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.

6. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the

prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent

necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,

Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an

individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Done at Vallejo, California, this 14th day of September 2020.

X

Signed by: RANDY MOORE

RANDY MOORE

Regional Forester Pacific Southwest Region

Regional Order No. 20-13

USDA Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region

Emergency Closure Order
 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety and

protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within

the Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from September 15, 2020, through

September 21, 2020.
 

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests

listed below.

a. Eldorado National Forest

b. Tahoe National Forest

c. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

d. Plumas National Forest

e. Lassen National Forest

f. Mendocino National Forest

g. Klamath National Forest

h. Six Rivers National Forest

i. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

j. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. 261.52(e).

2. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.

a. Eldorado National Forest

b. Tahoe National Forest

c. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

d. Plumas National Forest

e. Lassen National Forest

f. Mendocino National Forest

g. Klamath National Forest

h. Six Rivers National Forest

i. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

j. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. 261.54(e).

3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.

a. Eldorado National Forest

b. Tahoe National Forest

c. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

d. Plumas National Forest

e. Lassen National Forest

f. Mendocino National Forest

g. Klamath National Forest

h. Six Rivers National Forest

i. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

j. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. 261.55(a).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,

or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this

Order

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting

force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to

conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest

products, or grazing livestock.

4. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.

5. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.

6. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the

prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent

necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,

Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an

individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Done at Vallejo, California, this 14th day of September 2020.

X

Signed by: RANDY MOORE

RANDY MOORE

Regional Forester Pacific Southwest Region