NEW CASTLE FIRE VOLUNTARY EVACUATION WARNING

Sheriff Boudreaux has just issued a voluntary evacuation notice (warning) for the following area:

Balch Park to Three Rivers along South Fork

An Evacuation Warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
 
 
 

CASTLE FIRE UPDATE: New Mandatory Evacuation Orders

The Castle Fire made a big push west in the middle of the night, prompting Sheriff Boudreaux to issue an additional MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER.

This new order is for the following area:

Highway 190 along the south, from the intersection at Balch Road north to Blue Ridge Lookout east to Moses Mountain, and south to Highway 190 at Mahogany Flat

The following communities remain under an evacuation order:

Doyle Springs
Balch Park
Blue Ridge
Camp Nelson
Coy Flat
Mountain Aire
Pier Point
Alpine Village
Sequoia Crest
Redwood Drive
Ponderosa
Cedar Slopes
Pyles Boys Camp

A Mandatory Evacuation Order means there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. Those who live in these areas must leave now.

Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) Fire Update

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 13, 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: www.facebook.com/TulareCountyFireDepartment

Twitter: @sequoiaforest and @Inyo_NF

Incident Statistics

Location: 25 miles N of Kernville, CA

Date of origin: 8/19/20  

Cause: Lightning

Size: 74,304 acres           

Containment: 12%

Cost: $21.7 million          

Injuries: 12

Civilians evacuated: 1,433

Structures threatened: 838

Structures destroyed: 1

Resources

Hand Crews: 10

Engines: 54

Water-tenders: 18          

Dozers: 7

Helicopters: 8   

Personnel: 764

A virtual community meeting will be held at 6 PM on September 13, 2020.  The meeting will be broadcast via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF.      

Four structures burned in the Golden Trout Pack Station area during Saturday’s fire activity.  This will be reflected in tomorrow’s Incident Statistics as they are updated through official channels. At the time of this update, no additional structures have burned during the active burning overnight and this morning.

The Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 has been extended and will continue to manage the Sequoia Complex through September 22.

Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: Acreages are 73,666 acres for the Castle Fire and 638 acres for Shotgun fire, for a total of 74,304 acres.

Castle Fire: Active fire behavior began early on Saturday as crews reported the fire was pushing up the ridge on the northwest corner.  Ridge level winds from the east pushed the fire towards the west all day, bumping the fireline and causing spot fires in the Alder Creek drainage outside of containment lines. Firing actions took place off of containment lines in Freeman Creek Grove and Jordan Peak Road to slow fire progression. Structural engines supported firing operations with water throughout the day and overnight to protect values at risk.

“I could not be prouder of the work that our crews have put in on this western flank. This country is steep and difficult and taking it one careful piece at a time is going to give us the best chance at protecting local values,” said Shawn Borgen, Operations Trainee.

The fire continues to hold within the southern containment lines, smoke will continue to be monitored. Further southeast, crews continue to make good progress constructing direct handline on the point of the fire that pushed out towards Beach Meadows. North of the finger, between Little Horse Meadows and Osa Meadows, fuels are not conducive to carrying fire. This area will continue to be monitored by air. Structural assessment and preparation continue in Long Canyon, Casa Vieja, and Monache Meadows. Within Sequoia National Park, a ten-person fire module will continue work prepping the Kern Canyon Ranger Station and affiliated buildings. This work is anticipated to continue through the next couple of operational shifts.

The fire moved actively west and southwest through the night. Firefighters continue to implement structure protection actions to protect values at risk.  Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority in efforts to suppress the fire and actions will be adjusted as needed to maintain life safety. Reconnaissance flights are being flown this morning to assess where the fire is currently established. Extreme fire weather is forecast for Sunday, and the fire continues to actively burn.

Ground resources have been supported by aerial resources and to date on the Castle Fire a total of 1.2 million gallons of water and 560,000 gallons of retardant have been dropped. Air resources have also transported a total of 65,000 pounds of cargo.

Shotgun Fire:  Fire intensity has increased with east winds; the fire is now 638 acres.  

Weather: Mainly clear skies will be over the fire area on Sunday with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s in upper elevations and in the lower 90s in lower elevations. Relative humidity levels will fall into the lower teens and upper single digits once again today.

Smoke: Smoke may begin to shade the fire again starting Monday, and especially on Tuesday as the upper flow becomes more southwesterly to westerly. For current air quality, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Evacuations and Closures:

• Evacuation Orders from the Tulare County Sheriff are in effect for the following communities: Doyle Springs (9/12/20), Camp Nelson, Coy Flat, Mountain Aire, Pierpoint, and points between (issued 9/6/20), Alpine Village, Sequoia Crest and Redwood Drive (issued 9/4/20), Ponderosa, Cedar Slope, Pyles Camp, and points between (8/28/20).
• Currently, the nearest Red Cross evacuation center is at Clovis North High School, 2770 E. International Ave, Fresno. For assistance with evacuation, call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or https://tinyurl.com/yafetgkj
• Tulare County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications at alerttc.com
• Park and Campgrounds closures: 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.
• Current conditions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/y3q9x5l8.
• For current information on California Highways, visit https://dot.ca.gov/ .
• 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.

Smoke Outlook for 9/13 - 9/14

Southern Sierra - Sequoia : SQF Complex

Issued at: 2020-09-13 08:12 PDT

Smoke

Yesterday, air quality was affected by the E winds & fire’s

breakout along the WNW fire perimeter. Owens Valley and

Kennedy Meadows were clear while Kern River drainage, Sierra

Foothills & Sequoia NP experienced degraded air. Today,

smoke conditions are similar. High winds aloft E-SE make this

possible. Air quality is Good east of Kern River Drainage and

can be Very Unhealthy west of the Kern River Drainage. At

night, daytime produced smoke returns to the area.

Special Notes

Smoke Outlook reflects particulate matter impacts on air

quality. Review your closest monitoring station when planning

outdoor activities. Roadway Visibility can be affected so drive

at reduced speed.

The Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) will host a public information meeting at 6 PM on Sunday, September 13, 2020. The meeting will be broadcast via Facebook Live and will also be available for viewing at later times. Questions may be submitted in advance to sqfcomplex2020@gmail.com.
 

Viewers do not need a Facebook account to view the meeting. The live stream will appear at the top of the Sequoia National Forest Facebook page a few minutes before 6:00 p.m. www.facebook.com/SequoiaNF

The Tulare County Sheriff issued a new mandatory evacuation order for Doyle Springs and Balch Park on Saturday, September 12, 2020,

A Mandatory Evacuation Order means there is immediate threat to life and/or property. Those who live in these areas must leave now.

The following communities remain under an evacuation order:

Camp Nelson

Coy Flat

Mountain Aire

Pier Point

Alpine Village

Sequoia Crest

Redwood Drive

Ponderosa

Cedar Slopes

Pyles Boys Camp

The Tulare County Sheriff issued a new mandatory evacuation order for Doyle Springs at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2020,

A Mandatory Evacuation Order means there is immediate threat to life and/or property. Those who live in these areas must leave now.

The following communities remain under an evacuation order:

Camp Nelson

Coy Flat

Mountain Aire

Pier Point

Alpine Village

Sequoia Crest

Redwood Drive

Ponderosa

Cedar Slopes

Pyles Boys Camp

As predicted in today's update, fire behavior on the Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) has become active. Smoke is visible from many locations. We will post more information as it becomes available.

Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) Fire Update

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 12, 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: www.facebook.com/TulareCountyFireDepartment

Twitter: @sequoiaforest and @Inyo_NF
 

Incident Statistics

Location: 25 miles N of Kernville, CA

Date of origin: 8/19/20  Cause: Lightning

Size: 68,093 acres           

Containment: 12%

Cost: $19.6 million         

 Injuries: 12

Civilians evacuated: 1,433

Structures threatened: 838

Structures destroyed: 1

Resources

Hand Crews: 12

Engines: 58

Water-tenders: 19          

Dozers: 7

Helicopters: 8    

Personnel: 822
 

A Haines Index of 6 is predicted for today. This means that there is instability in the atmosphere and a high potential for the fire to exhibit erratic fire behavior. Active fire behavior is expected today.

Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: Because an infrared flight was not flown last night due to mechanical issues, updated acreages are not available. Acreages remain 67,516 acres for the Castle Fire and 577 acres for Shotgun fire, with 68,093 total acres.

Castle Fire: On Friday, the western flank of the fire was presented with challenging weather conditions, with ridge level winds coming in from the east, pushing the fire west. At approximately a mile and a half north of White Meadow, the fire became active and spotted over the containment line. A smoke column was visible in this area. Hotshot crews, structural firefighting engines, and heavy helicopters worked aggressively to catch spot fires and secure the line. By the evening, winds shifted back in firefighter’s favor. This western edge continues to be a challenging piece for fire crews.  Due to its complexity, terrain, values at risk, and safety of firefighters and the public, fire managers are slowly implementing strategies that have a high probability of success.  Incident Commander Mike Goicoechea, encouraged firefighters by reminding us all that, “this is a marathon, not a sprint.”

On the eastern side of the fire that pushes out towards Beach Meadows, hand crews and dozers continue to construct line on the south side of the fire finger. Crews are going direct and will eventually bring their work around the tip. Further east, crews continue to assess structures within Long Canyon and Monache Meadows. A firefighter module of ten people was inserted on the northern point of the fire in Sequoia National Park. These firefighters will work to provide structure protection around Kern Canyon.

Today, crews will continue work with the prioritization of their efforts being on the critical western edge. If feasible, crews may use firing operations to strengthen existing containment lines, however any burning will have to be carefully planned given the potential for erratic and shifting winds. Later this afternoon, upslope winds will develop and there will be an opportunity to be able to complete containment line at a higher pace on the western edge. The structural group remains an integral part of this entire operation and has been busy preparing roads, transporting firefighters and water, as well as becoming familiar with all area communities at risk.

Shotgun Fire:  The fire remains at 577 acres and continues to exhibit low intensity surface fire in sparse fuel. 

Weather: Today’s weather will be several degrees warmer (84 to 90 degrees) and relative humidity percentage levels (8 to 13%) will be lower, bringing increased instability to the fire area. East to southeast winds will remain aloft on the ridges today, with upslope winds developing in the late afternoon.  

Smoke: Current weather conditions are anticipated to push smoke to the west of the fire area for the next couple days. For current air quality, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Evacuations and Closures:

• Evacuation Orders from the Tulare County Sheriff are in effect for the following communities: Camp Nelson, Coy Flat, Mountain Aire, Pierpoint, and points between (issued 9/6/20), Alpine Village, Sequoia Crest and Redwood Drive (issued 9/4/20), Ponderosa, Cedar Slope, Pyles Camp, and points between (8/28/20). An Evacuation Warning is in place for Doyle Springs.  
• For assistance with evacuation, contact the Red-Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or https://tinyurl.com/yafetgkj
• Tulare County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications at alerttc.com
• Park and Campgrounds closures: 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.
• Current conditions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/y3q9x5l8.
• For current information on California Highways, visit https://dot.ca.gov/ .
• 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.

Smoke