Smoke Outlook for 9/11 - 9/12

 Issued at: 2020-09-11 08:40 PDT

Southern Sierra - Sequoia: SQF Complex

 Smoke - Yesterday, air quality was a mixed bag. Overall it was better. Today, the fire’s smoke will not transport well as winds are light. With burnouts planned, much smoke can be expected to stay within the Outlook Area degrading air quality. The morning inversion will break late (1 to 2 PM). This permits smoke pooling/collection before upslope/up valley winds initiate movement. Within Outlook Area: Owens Valley is to have the best air quality while Foothills & Sequoia National Park will experience degraded air quality. At night ridge top winds become N & when slope/valley winds return so will the smoke produced during the day.

Special Note - Smoke Outlook reflects particulate matter impacts on air quality. Review your closest monitoring station when planning outdoor activities. Motorists be aware of reduced Roadway Visibility in the early AM.

Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) Fire Update

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 11, 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: $18.3 million

Injuries: 12

Civilians evacuated: 1,433

Structures threatened: 838

Structures destroyed: 1

Resources

Hand Crews: 12

Engines: 49

Water-tenders: 19

Dozers: 8

Helicopters: 8

Personnel: 796

The Sequoia Complex now has an Interactive Fire Map - https://tinyurl.com/yxfb58w9. This map can be used to measure the distance between the current fire perimeter and nearby communities.

Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: The 68,093 acre complex includes the 67,516 acre Castle Fire and the 577 acre Shotgun fire. 

Castle Fire: On Thursday, crews began the first full day of actively constructing the indirect line that will be critical to secure the western edge of the fire. Anchor points are being established on the northern and southern points of this edge with the primary mission of protecting local communities. Fire retardant was used to bolster fire containment lines in this area. Containment line on the ground was established from Mountaineer Creek near the 2017 Lion Fire scar south towards Golden Trout Pack Station, where firing operations began later in the afternoon. In the Freeman Creek Grove, low intensity fire continues to move through the area. Further south on the western edge, crews and heavy equipment worked to piece together line east of Quaker Meadow towards The Needles.  

Firefighters were able to build direct line between Little Horse Meadows and Lion Meadows, on the south side of the eastern finger of fire. On the northernmost point of the fire, an aerial assessment was completed between the Sequoia National Park and the Inyo National Forest. There has been little growth of the fire in the Inyo National Forest in the past several days. Structure assessment continued in Long Canyon. Aerial reconnaissance was completed on all areas of the fire that have shown containment to ensure that lines are holding.

Today, crews plan to methodically use hand ignition and aerial firing operations to create a low intensity fire in the northwest corner. Once completed, this operation will produce a solid anchor for firefighters. This indirect fire line will proceed south to Log Cabin Meadow. Firefighters will work from Freeman Creek Grove south and east towards 22S82. Structure protection crews continue to provide support to indirect line construction as well as providing structure protection in Alpine Village and Camp Nelson. 

If conditions warrant, firing may occur today along the south side of the fire finger between Little Horse Meadows and Lion Meadows. As the “box” around this finger shrinks, firefighters will have the opportunity to construct more direct fireline. Backcountry structure protection continues in Long Canyon. A fire module of ten people will be inserted on the north point of the fire, near Sequoia National Park. They will begin a planned two day operation of providing structure protection, including to the Kern River Station.

Shotgun Fire:  The fire is 577 acres and continues to exhibit low intensity surface fire in sparse fuel. The fire will continue to be monitored by air and resources will be sent for protection of the Quinn Patrol Cabin if necessary. 

Weather: Upper level high pressure ridging and diurnally driven winds will prevail across the fire area on Friday. Warming temperatures will also return through the weekend with clear skies and temperatures in the 80s and 90s.

Smoke: The Kern River Valley is receiving smoke from multiple wildfires in southern California and is anticipated to remain through the day. For more information on current air quality, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Structures: It was discovered that one structure was lost, the USFS cabin at Grey Meadow was destroyed by the fire.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks remains open. The Generals Highway, the main road through the parks, is open at this time allowing visitors access to the giant sequoias in both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Due to area wildfires, parts of the southern Sequoia - Kings Canyon Wilderness in Sequoia National Park are closed. The closed area is focused on the Kern River Canyon. Please visit https://tinyurl.com/y3q9x5l8 for current conditions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

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 Park may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/y3q9x5l8.
• 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.

Humo

Smoke

Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) Fire Update

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 10, 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

Location: 25 miles N of Kernville, CA

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

Size: 67,529 acres          

 Containment: 12%

Cost: $16.3 million         

 Injuries: 10

Civilians evacuated: 1,433

Structures threatened: 838

Resources

Hand Crews: 12

Engines: 52

Water-tenders: 18          

Dozers: 8

Helicopters: 7    

Personnel: 794

All 18 National Forests in California are under a temporary closure from the USDA Forest Service due to extreme fire behavior.

Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: Containment on the Sequoia Complex has increased from 7% to 12%. The 67,529 acre complex includes the 66,965 acre Castle Fire and the 564 acre Shotgun fire.  Approximately 56,100 acres of the Castle Fire is in the Sequoia National Forest and 11,429 is in the Inyo National Forest.

Castle Fire: Firefighters were again assisted with weather conditions that moderated fire activity on Wednesday.  Fire managers are pleased with the fire effects within Freeman Grove. Fire continues to back nicely in the grove, working well with the fuels treatments that have been completed in this area.  On the southern edge of this flank, ground crews and dozers began work to establish a containment line outside of the Grove.  Further north, crews began work to put in a line from Clicks Creek to Coffee Middle Meadow.

Additional containment of the fire is being shown on the southeast edge, as this area has been tested by two wind events and continues to hold. This area will continue to be monitored by air as there is some smoke and heat on the interior of this corner. Further east, fire crews continued work where the fire had pushed out on Monday towards Beach Meadows. Crews continued to prep from Lions Meadow toward Beach Meadows and are working to box in this finger of the fire. A backcountry group working on the Inyo National Forest scouted structures in Long Canyon. The northern most point of the fire near Sequoia National Park was scouted by air. If it becomes necessary, resources will be moved to protect the Kern River Station and two other nearby structures. 

The incident management team anticipates a full week of slow, methodical work to establish lines important in protecting critical values at risk. Today, crews will begin indirect firing operations to anchor the western edge of the fire between Golden Trout Pack Station and the 2017 Lion fire. Through the next week, crews will piece together a containment line using roads, ridges, and trails toward Jordan Meadows.  This work will be slow and methodical and will be implemented over several days becoming more difficult as crews approach road 22S82 due to steep rugged terrain.  

Crews also anticipate using firing operations to help hold and secure line on the eastern flank of the fire north of Black Rock Station. Structure protection measures will be implemented in Monache Meadows. The backcounty group will continue their work in Long Canyon on the Inyo National Forest.

Shotgun Fire:  The fire is 564 acres and continues to exhibit low intensity surface fire in sparse fuel. The fire team is aware of the Quinn Patrol Cabin and will send resources for structure protection of this historic structure if necessary. 

Weather: Upper level high pressure will begin to slowly shift into the region on Thursday, and will re-establish itself over the area through the night and into Friday. Temperatures will begin a warming trend today, with high temperatures in the high 80s in the lower elevations. The ridge winds will start out northerly this morning, but will become southwesterly later today.

Smoke: Smoke from the Creek Fire will impact the Kern River Valley until the inversion lifts around noon. Heavy smoke will return and settle in the evening. For more information: 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.  
• Road Closures: 1) State Hwy 190 at Rio Vista Road, 3 miles east of Springville; 2) Mountain Road (MR) 107 (Great Western Divide Highway) and MR 50 (both roads at their junction), 1 mile east of Parker Pass; 3) MR 99 and the Sherman Pass Road (both roads), 19 miles north of Kernville near the Johnsondale Bridge; 4) Sherman Pass Road, west of Kennedy Meadows. 5. Cherry Hill Road (Forest Route 22s12) at its junction with the Sherman Pass Road.
• 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.
• The USDA Forest Service on 9/7/2020 has issued the following: Emergency Forest Closures (Order No. 20-07 and Order No. 20-08) and Emergency Fire Restrictions (Order No. 20-06) for the Pacific Southwest Region that  temporarily closes eight National Forests, including the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests.

• The Temporary Flight Restriction was extended 4 miles further west on 9/8/20 and an additional 4 miles to the south on 9/9/20. Drones are also prohibited.

Priorities include: Communities listed in the above evacuation orders, Casa Vieja, Blackrock 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.

 U.S. Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region

1323 Club Drive

Vallejo, CA 94591

Web: www.fs.usda.gov/r5

September 9, 2020

Media Contact: Jonathan Groveman

(707) 562-8995

jonathan.groveman@usda.gov

 Forest Service Temporarily Closes All National Forests in California

VALLEJO, Calif., September 9, 2020 – Due to unprecedented and historic fire conditions throughout the state, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of an additional ten National Forests, meaning all eighteen National Forests in California are now closed. The closure of the additional ten forests will be effective at 5:00 pm today. These additional forests include the Eldorado National Forest, Klamath National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, Modoc National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, Plumas National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Tahoe National Forest, and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. This decision will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.

We had closed eight National Forests on Monday evening, Sept. 7, 2020. Explosive growth of fires throughout California during the day and late evening of Sept. 8th led to this updated decision.

“The number of large fires and extreme fire behavior we are seeing across the State is historic," said Regional Forester Randy Moore. "These temporary closures are necessary to protect the public and our firefighters, and we will keep them in place until conditions improve and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely. I ask all Californians and visitors to take these closures and evacuations seriously for their own safety and to allow our firefighters to focus on the mission of safely suppressing these fires ."

The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this monumental fire threat. It is critical that all Californians and national forest visitors follow these important closures and restrictions for their own safety and the safety of our firefighters. Citizens with specific questions within their area may call their local forests for more information.

The Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/R5.

Pronóstico de Humo para 9/09 - 10/09

Southern Sierra - Sequoia : SQF Complex

Sequoia Complex (#SQFComplex) Fire Update

Sequoia and Inyo National Forests

September 9, 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: 64,258 acres           

Containment: 7%

Cost: $14.8 million         

Injuries: 12

Civilians evacuated: 1,433

Structures threatened: 838

Resources

Hand Crews: 13

Engines: 39

Water-tenders: 19          

Dozers: 8

Helicopters: 7   

Personnel: 810
 

Operational video briefings continue to be posted to the Sequoia National Forest Facebook site daily.

Yesterday, The Sequoia National Forest announced it has temporarily closed public access to the forest due to extreme fire behavior. This follows the Regional Office’s 9/7/2020 Emergency Forest Closures that temporarily closed eight National Forests, including the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests. 

Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: The 64,258 acre complex includes the 63,729 acre Castle Fire and the 529 acre Shotgun fire.  Approximately 52,413 acres of the Castle Fire is in the Sequoia National Forest and 11,316 is in the Inyo National Forest.

Castle Fire: Yesterday, firefighters caught a break with weather conditions that helped moderate fire behavior activity. This allowed personnel to get in on the western flank of the fire to strategically plan for a containment line. Crews began to implement the plan by constructing indirect line, utilizing old fire scars and working down to the White Meadow area.

On the southwestern corner, containment lines continue to hold the fire from Kern River to Lion Meadows. While some smoke has been visible in the area, it is not expected to be a threat. Further southeast, crews were able to get in and work on the finger of fire that had progressed on Monday towards Beach Meadows. Firefighters knocked down spot fires and were able to get a good assessment of structures in the area.  Preparation for line construction continues from Blackrock Mountain to Beach Ridge.

Today, crews will continue to prioritize working on the western edge of the fire, stitching together pieces of containment line that will include natural fuel breaks and roads. The goal is to keep the fire spread east of Lloyd Meadow Road and north of Ponderosa and the Mountain Aire communities. Jordan Peak and White Meadow will be assessed for structure protection needs. Fire behavior in the Freeman Grove, which currently has a low intensity, creeping fire, will continue to monitored, and mop up will continue where possible. Further east, evaluation and preparation for structure protection will continue in Casa Vieja and Monache Meadows.  

Crews assigned to structure protection have been active and mobile, familiarizing themselves with the multiple communities under mandatory evacuation. This plan allows all firefighters to become familiar with multiple areas and gives them situational awareness to be able to respond effectively, if and wherever, fire does break out.

Shotgun Fire:  529 acres and continues slowly burning in a rocky drainage and being monitored by aircraft.

Weather: Wednesday will be the coolest day of the week, with high temperatures ranging from the low 70s to the upper 80s in lower elevations. Winds will begin today out of the northwest, and will become southwesterly by early afternoon. High pressure will move into the region on Thursday night and temperatures will become hotter.   

Smoke: Smoke from the Creek Fire will impact the Kern River Valley until the inversion lifts in the early afternoon. Heavy smoke will return and settle in the evening. For more information: 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.  
• Road Closures: 1) State Hwy 190 at Rio Vista Road, 3 miles east of Springville; 2) Mountain Road (MR) 107 (Great Western Divide Highway) and MR 50 (both roads at their junction), 1 mile east of Parker Pass; 3) MR 99 and the Sherman Pass Road (both roads), 19 miles north of Kernville near the Johnsondale Bridge; 4) Sherman Pass Road, west of Kennedy Meadows. 5. Cherry Hill Road (Forest Route  22s12) at its junction with the Sherman Pass Road.
• 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.
• The USDA Forest Service on 9/7/2020 has issued the following: Emergency Forest Closures (Order No. 20-07 and Order No. 20-08) and Emergency Fire Restrictions (Order No. 20-06) for the Pacific Southwest Region that  temporarily closes eight National Forests, including the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests.
• A Temporary Flight Restriction has been issued for the airspace around the fire complex, and it was extended further west on Tuesday. Drones are also prohibited.

Priorities include: Communities listed in the above evacuation orders, facilities within Trout Meadow, structures along the Lloyd Meadows Road, Freeman Creek Grove and other Sequoia groves, the President George H.W. Bush Tree, Camp Whitsett, archeological values, Peppermint Fire Station,  Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog and Little Kern Golden Trout Critical Habitats, Pacific Fisher habitats, OSA and Beach Meadows, trailheads and facilities.

Smoke

U.S. Forest Service

Sequoia National Forest Giant Sequoia National Monument

1839 S. Newcomb Street

Porterville, CA 93257

Web: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia/

September 8, 2020

Media Contact: Alicia Embrey

alicia.embrey@usda.gov

Access to Sequoia National Forest Temporarily Closed

Access to Sequoia National Forest temporarily closed to the public as of, Monday, September 7, at 5 p.m., due to the extreme fire behavior throughout California. According to the Regional Emergency Forest Closure Order, developed and dispersed camping, day-use areas, wilderness areas, forest roads, and trails are closed to the public. This is a short-term closure that will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.

According to the closure order the following is prohibited within the Sequoia National Forest:

• Going into or being upon National Forest System lands

• Being on a National Forest System road

• Being on a National Forest System trail

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.

The closure is due to the extremely dangerous wildfire situation throughout California. Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior, new fire starts are likely, weather conditions are worsening. Fire restrictions have elevated to prohibiting all ignition sources, including campfires and propane or gel-fuel stoves.

An example of the extreme fire behavior can be seen from the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest. The fire made a 15-mile run and burned 36,000 acres in 24 hours. The California National Guard air evacuated more than 200 people from a forest campground.

The potential for new fire starts, and extreme behavior is very high over the next 3 days as a result of significant weather conditions. Throughout northern and southern California, hot, dry, windy, and unstable conditions, with temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal, are expected. Winds throughout northern California are expected to average 25 to 40 mph, and there is the potential for gusts of 50 mph or higher along ridgelines and aligned valleys. In southern California, winds are expected to average 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

Understand this is done for extremely critical conditions, and we ask the public's assistance in observing this short-term closure.

Stay informed, follow our webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia, Facebook at #SequoiaNF, Twitter at @sequoiaforest or SequoiaNF OnCell app or email us at SM.FS.SequoiaNF@usda.gov.