Sept. 19, 2020: The Stanislaus National Forest is reopening sections of the forest again to public access after the Pacific Southwest Region rescinded its regional closure order. The regional closure order signed by Regional Forester Randy Moore expired at 8 a.m. today.. Fire restrictions remain in effect at all elevations on the forest, which prohibit using any ignition sources, including campfires, propane or gel-fuel stoves and smoking materials.

Forest Order STF-16-2020-19, Temporary Camping, Occupancy, and Use Restrictions: prohibits dispersed camping in high and moderate fire hazard areas as well as recreational target shooting, but opens the forest for day use between sunrise and sunset, and authorizes some developed campgrounds.

For more information please see our main web page at:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus/
 

 Fire Statistics:LOCATION: Stanislaus National Forest,Summit Ranger DistrictLOCATION: Emigrant Wilderness (north of BearLake and south of Lake Valley trail)ACRES: 4 acres DATE DETECTED: July 28, 2020CAUSE: Lightning PERCENT CONTAINED: 0%INJURIES/ACCIDENTS: 0 STRUCTURES THREATENED: 0TOTAL PERSONNEL:25 STRUCTURES DESTROYED:0Fire Resources include: 2 Wildland Fire (10-person) Modules, 5 Incident Management Team leaders
 
CURRENT SITUATION: The Bell Fire is located in a remote area of the Stanislaus National Forest (STF) on the Summit Ranger District in the Emigrant Wilderness between the 8000 to 9000 ft level. The fire is currently about 4 acres in size and location about 5 miles east of Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, 1.5 miles southeast of Gianelli Trailhead, and 2 miles east of Crabtree Trailhead (as a bird flies).The STF Incident Management Team (IMT) is utilizing a confine and contain suppression strategy for firefighter and public safety, while utilizing extensive rocky and other natural features (like creeks) as containment lines. The IMT is taking advantage of the recent cooler conditions to control the fire with an indirect attack method of burning out vegetation and fuel between the edge of the fire and control lines. Burn out will continue as vegetation and fuel conditions are favorable, and the strategy has been successfulso far. Prevention and management of COVID-19 continues to be incorporated during all Forest and fire management activities, including our response to local fires, like the Bell Fire. 

The Bell Fire was first detected on July 28, 2020 and was started by lightning from thunderstorms that occurred in the days leading up to its detection. The fire is burning in a very steep and rugged area about a half mile north of Bear Lake and a quarter mile south of the Lake Valley (#19E21) trail that is interspersed with rocky areas and vegetation. Firefighters are working to contain the fire using naturalbreaks in vegetation, as well as local trails. Forest Closure Area: No forest, road, or trail closures are in effect in this area at this time. Please use caution while recreating in this general area and avoid the recently burned areas as dead or damaged trees can be immediate safety hazards. Smoke is likely visible from some trails and roads. Please check the Stanislaus National Forest Webpage for closure order information for other areas, as well as fire restriction areas at this link https://go.usa.gov/xUvWQ.
For more information about the Stanislaus National Forest, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus 

UPDATE #4: Stagecoach Fire - Updated Evacuation Information

UPDATE #4: Stagecoach Fire - Updated Evacuation Information. Details below.

Este es un mensaje de emergencia. Para espanol, llame a 211. Gracias.

If you live or work near the Stagecoach Fire near Caliente, please pay close attention to this message.

This is an update to earlier ReadyKern notifications regarding the Stagecoach Fire near Caliente.

Previous ReadyKern messages provided detail about areas under recommended and precautionary evacuation. This message updates that information.

the following areas remain under recommended evacuation:

Caliente Bodfish Road east to Piute Mountain Road, from the area south of School Street to JUST SOUTH OF HERITAGE WAY and

Saddle Springs Road/Piute Mountain Road as it goes near the following areas, listed in alphabetical order: Burton Mill, Clear Creek, Cold Spring, Liebel Peak, Piute Peak, Piute Spring, Rocky Point, and Saddle Spring.

A recommended evacuation means that the Stagecoach Fire is still an imminent threat and all persons in the evacuation area continue to be strongly advised to leave and seek shelter away from the fire area. A recommended evacuation will likely be the last warning given.

THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED FROM RECOMMENDED TO PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION:

DAILEY ROAD EAST TO THE WEST END OF GOLDEN SPUR, BETWEEN THE TOP OF INDIAN OAK LOOP SOUTH TO WILLIAMS ROAD AND

WILLIAMS ROAD SOUTH TO WALKER BASIN ROAD, BETWEEN JOHNS ROAD EAST TO THE EAST END OF DOUGLAS AVENUE.

A precautionary evacuation means that the wildland fire may become a threat in the near future, and all residents are advised to be prepared to leave the area at a moment’s notice if it becomes necessary.

EFFECTIVE 6:00 P.M. TONIGHT, THE FOLLOWING EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED:

The west end of Old Ox Road east to Caliente Bodfish Road, between Quail Canyon Road south to Foxtail Canyon Road and

The west end of Owls Clover Road/Malivan Road east to the east end of Kendall Road, between Erdle Drive south to Piute Meadows Road.

Fire Department staff, vehicles, and equipment remain in the area. Residents should exercise appropriate caution around them.

A Temporary Evacuation Point continues to be available at the parking lot of the former K-Mart at 710 West Tehachapi Blvd. in Tehachapi.

Recommended Evacuations: 1. The area west of Old Ox Road east to Caliente Bodfish Road, between Quail Canyon Road south to Foxtail Canyon Road. 2. Caliente Bodfish Road east to Piute Mountain Road, from the area south of School Street to Walker Basin Road. Precautionary Evacuations: The west end of Owls Clover Road/Malivan Road east to the east end of Kendall Road, between Erdle Drive south to Piute Meadows Road. A Temporary Evacuation Point continues to be available at the parking lot of the former K-Mart at 710 West Tehachapi Blvd. in Tehachapi or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) Road Closures: Breckenridge Road at Caliente Bodfish Road. Walser Road at Caliente Bodfish Road.

 Join fire managers for an online community meeting tonight August 13, at 8:00 p.m. 

An American Sign Language interpreter and captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up.  https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/

We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting or you can e-mail us your questions in advance at 2020.CassadoreSprings@firenet.gov

We will try to answer as many questions as we can. 
A recording of the informational meeting will be available on the Facebook page for later viewing.  

 Final Update for Cassadore Springs Fire   

Cassadore Springs Fire – August 13, 2020 Daily Update

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

Acres: 21,284 acres

Start Date: August 1, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 83%

Total personnel: 295

Location: 11 miles north of San Carlos, AZ

Fuels: Brush, grass, ponderosa pine

Highlights: The incident management team will host a virtual community meeting tonight, August 13th at 8:00 P.M. at https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/. An American Sign Language interpreter and CART captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up. We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting, or you can email us your questions in advance at 2020.CassadoreSprings@firenet.gov.

Transition: This will be the last update from the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4. On Friday at 6:00 A.M., the team will transfer command of the Cassadore Springs Fire to a Type 4 organization led by Incident Commander Keith Burnette. Resources remaining on the fire include the Geronimo Hotshots, San Carlos T2IA Crew, San Carlos RTAL Crew, four engines, one water tender, one dozer, the Fort Apache Type 3 helicopter and Helitack Crew, and miscellaneous overhead. Any future fire information will be posted on the San Carlos Apache Forestry Facebook page (see link below).

Fire Activity and Operations: The fire is now 83% contained. The only uncontained area is located in steep rugged rim country above Alder Creek. Firefighters are monitoring those spots and are finding no heat at this time. The resources that remain on this fire are available to respond to any new starts in the area.

Weather: An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect through Monday. Temperatures will continue to slowly increase into the weekend, reaching or exceeding record levels by Saturday. A few thunderstorms are expected in the area this afternoon and early evening, then dry weather is anticipated Friday and Saturday. Sunday onward will continue to be much hotter than normal, however easterly flow will bring monsoon moisture into the region. This will result in scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms as well as somewhat higher humidity levels much of next week.

Closures: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the fire area. The public is encouraged to stay safely clear of the fire area. The 1120 road to the south, 1122 road to the west, 1300 road to the north, and 1220 road to the east are closed due to fire activity and firefighters working along these roadways.

Thunderstorms Possible at Cassadore Springs Fire   

Cassadore Springs Fire – August 12, 2020 Daily Update

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

Acres: 21,258 acres

Start Date: August 1, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 75%

Total personnel: 325

Location: 11 miles north of San Carlos, AZ

Fuels: Brush, grass, ponderosa pine

 

 Overview: The lightning-caused Cassadore Springs Fire is burning in the Hilltop area on the San Carlos Apache Reservation lands. On Monday August 3rd, the San Carlos Agency delegated authority to the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 to manage the incident. 

Highlights: The incident management team will host a virtual community meeting on Thursday night, August 13th at 8:00 P.M. at https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/. An American Sign Language interpreter and CART captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up. We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting, or you can email us your questions in advance at 2020.CassadoreSprings@firenet.gov. 

Fire Activity and Operations: Yesterday was the first quiet day on the Cassadore Springs Fire since it began on August 1st. Fire managers have increased the containment to 75%. Crews are continuing to perform suppression repair duties and mop up the remaining heat on the fire. There were no new starts yesterday, but the potential remains high as thunderstorms bring in more lightning. The incident management team has started the process of releasing some crews to other fires in the region, while retaining enough resources to effectively manage the Cassadore Springs Fire and respond to any new fire starts. The number of personnel assigned to the fire will continue to decrease due to successful firefighting efforts.

Weather: An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect Wednesday through Monday. The monsoon may be sputtering to life as moisture begins to move north into Arizona. This moisture will bring a risk of thunderstorms to the area both Wednesday and Thursday afternoons with a threat of gusty winds, lightning, and a chance for some rain. Temperatures will remain quite hot, nearing record highs despite the clouds and storms. Friday through Saturday will be hot and generally dry with very few thunderstorms. Sunday into the early part of next week, the monsoon flow looks to strengthen with an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Daily Operational Video available on the Cassadore Springs Fire Facebook Page:
English: https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/920123938485253
Apache:https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/326967028436522

 Containment Increases to 60% on the Cassadore Springs Fire   

Cassadore Springs Fire – August 11, 2020 Daily Update

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

Acres: 21,088 acres

Start Date: August 1, 2020