SONORA, California June 28, 2023 – What began as a lightning-caused wildfire along Jawbone Pass in the pre-planned Cherry North Prescribed (RX) Burn Unit on the Stanislaus National Forest’s Groveland Ranger District is being managed to achieve multiple objectives.

              The lightning ignition was originally detected on June 15, and district fire managers immediately began work to ensure this naturally ignited fire stayed within pre-determined boundaries. Much of the work, including thinning vegetation along containment lines and clearing roads impacted by winter storm damage has already been completed based upon pre-existing prescribed fire plans.

              “This lightning strike happened right in an area where we had already done significant planning and prep work,” said Groveland District Fire Management Officer, Pat Laeng. “Assuming weather conditions remained favorable, we had every intention of performing prescribed fire operations on this pre-defined unit in the very near term.”

              “Allowing natural fire to spread in areas where it can be safely and effectively managed helps restore natural fire return intervals, increasing forest resiliency and aiding in reducing catastrophic wildfire risk to our communities,” said Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor, Jason Kuiken.

Kuiken noted that every fire – prescribed or wildfire – has a containment strategy developed using a full spectrum of management actions that consider fire and fuel conditions, predicted short- and long-term weather conditions, values at risk, resource availability, land management plans and designations, smoke impacts, and the potential for successful consumption of fuel loads.

“Every management strategy identifies places suppression resources need to prioritize activities based on values at risk. However, containment strategies may include identification of natural barriers or locations where fire could be ecologically beneficial,” said Kuiken. “It should also be pointed out, these burn units, and where the fire started, are within the Rim Fire burn scar which itself acts as yet another containment tool.”

              Approximately 80 firefighting resources currently assigned to the near-completed Strawberry Prescribed Fire have been reassigned to the Groveland District to improve existing containment lines within the Cherry North RX Burn units. In addition, fire managers intend to utilize and reinforce existing Forest Service Roads, and utilize Cherry Creek, Reynolds Creek, and Cherry Lake as potential natural containment lines.

              Current warming trends that halted operations on the Strawberry Prescribed Fire Project are not having the same impact on the Bone Fire located nearly 2000 feet higher in elevation where temperatures are normally 5 -10 degrees cooler. Conditions will be assessed on a continual basis, and should the fire not meet the objectives of the Cherry North Rx Burn Plan then full suppression efforts will be utilized.

              “All told, we’re hoping to complete 961 acres of fuels mitigation,” said Laeng. “All of this is of course dependent on the continued availability of resources, weather, and other critical factors.”

INYO NATIONAL FOREST: SEVEN PINES RECREATION RESIDENCE TRACT CLOSURE ORDER ISSUED JUNE 28, 2023

The purpose of the Closure Area Forest Order is to provide for public safety in the Seven Pines Recreational Residence Tract, which is located within the boundaries of the Inyo National Forest.

Independence Creek experienced flooding on June 18, 2023, from high water flows from a 300% of normal snowpack in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Based on snowpack and expected heating beginning on or around June 26, 2023, leading to anticipated high snow melt runoff, there is an ongoing risk to public safety within and adjacent to the Seven Pines Tract.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation warning for this area due to flooding on June 19, 2023. See https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/.

This Forest Order prohibits occupying recreation residences within the Seven Pines Recreation Resident Tract Closure Area and going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Closure Area, as described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B (map).

The Forest Service will terminate this Forest Order when conditions allow for safe occupancy and use. This change may occur when peak flows subside, as determined in consultation with the National Weather Service and other government agencies.

The Forest Service will evaluate area conditions in mid-to-late July, when water flows in Independence Creek are anticipated to be lower and determine at that time whether the Closure Area should be reopened.

See Seven Pines Recreation Residence Tract Closure Forest Order and MAP (both posted below under related information) expires July 15, 2023 (date is subject to snow melt runoff conditions and site review).

Mandatory evacuation issued for Forest Road 628

Pagosa Springs, Colo., June 28, 2023—The Chris Mountain Fire on the San Juan National Forest Pagosa Ranger District was reported on June 28th, 2023 at 3:00pm. The 120-acre fire is burning on Chris Mountain, located approximately 12 miles west of Pagosa Springs, north of Highway 160. Archuleta County has issued mandatory evacuations for Forest Road 628, effective June 28th, 2023. To sign up for emergency notifications, visit the Archuleta County Emergency Operations website and to get current evacuation information visit their Facebook page.

The Chris Mountain Fire is burning in Ponderosa Pine and timber. Fire behavior in the afternoon was crowning and spotting with 50 to 100-foot flame lengths. The local San Juan National Forest Type 3 Incident Management Team will take command of the fire on June 29th.

Smoke from the Chris Mountain will be visible to surrounding communities for the duration of the fire. Chris Mountain Fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please go to: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health  

The San Juan National Forest will continue to provide additional incident updates as needed. Official incident information can also be found at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/cosjf-chris-mountain-fire or the San Juan National Forest social media: Twitter and Facebook.

For questions, please contact the San Juan National Forest Public Information Officer – Lorena Williams at 970-422-2939. 

-USDA-

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

National Weather Service – Las Vegas, NV

Web: weather.gov/lasvegas

Twitter: @NWSVegas

Facebook: NWS Las Vegas

Dangerous Heat this Holiday Weekend  

See below under related information, weather briefing package for details regarding upcoming forecasted weather events for June 29-July 5.

Key Points:

• Temperatures will rapidly increase starting Friday, with dangerous heat expected this weekend.
• Widespread MAJOR heat risk (level 3 of 4) is expected at times Saturday through Monday (What is Heat Risk?).
• An Excessive Heat Watch has been issued for Saturday through Monday for all valley areas in California, far southern Nevada, and southern Mohave County.
• Extra Caution should be taken this weekend to prevent heat-related illnesses; especially those who are sensitive to the heat, anyone visiting from a cooler climate, people with outdoor activities planned for the holiday weekend, and those who do not have access to adequate cooling and water.

Weather Forecast for Mammoth Area and Mono County:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.6488&lon=-118.9779#.ZGWDDHbMI2y

National Weather Service-(NWS) Reno Office Weather Forecast for June 28-July 4:

Last Day for Storms Before Summer Heat Begins

What better way to celebrate the summer than with a few storms today before the "Heat Is On" the latter half of this week into the weekend. If you haven't had the time to get that much needed sunscreen from the store, today is your day!

• Showers & T-storms Today
• Summer Temps Arrive
• Snowmelt River Flooding

CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS BRIEFING

• Increased confidence for our first real summer heat late this week into the weekend.

WEATHER RISK OUTLOOK

Risk levels incorporate potential impacts from weather hazards and likelihood of occurrence for a reasonable worse case scenario.

SEE SPREADSHEET IMAGE FOR JUNE 28-JULY 4 WEATHER RISK OUTLOOK BELOW UNDER RELATED INFORMATION OR ABOVE AT THE PHOTOS TAB

DETAILS

• Plan on 30% chances for a storm to impact the Tahoe Basin and eastern Sierra in Alpine and Mono counties. Primary threats will be lightning, small hail, and localized heavy rainfall. Lesser chances (15-25%) for western NV today.
• Warmer and drier conditions begin to take hold Thursday onward with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s for the lower valleys and the 80s in the Sierra. By this weekend, there is a 40% chance for Reno to hit the first 100° day of the year! Since 1990, the average date of the first 100° for Reno is July 10th.
• Heat will reinvigorate snowmelt across the Sierra during the latter half of the week. Plan on elevated flows in Eastern Sierra streams from I-80 south, and flooding in Mono County streams, and increased flooding along the Walker.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For the latest forecast updates, visit weather.gov/reno.

Archuleta County has issued mandatory evacuations for all of Forest Service Road 628. More information on evacuations can be found on the Archuleta County Facebook page

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Colorado River Valley Field Office 2300 River Frontage Road
Silt, Colorado 81652

June 27, 2023

Notice of Public Closure

Spring Creek Fire Area Closure Order #COG02000-23-02 For BLM managed lands in Garfield and Mesa counties, Colorado

Pursuant to 43 CFR 8364.1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is giving notice that BLM lands in 
Garfield and Mesa counties within the area of the Spring Creek Fire as described below are 
temporarily closed to all unauthorized entry effective June 28, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. Please also see 
the attached map.

This emergency closure is necessary to ensure public and fire fighter safety during firefighting 
activities and initial suppression rehabilitation efforts. The order is effective immediately and 
will remain in effect until the Spring Creek Fire is declared controlled or until this order is 
rescinded.

Closure Area Description: This closure affects BLM lands near the town of Parachute and the 
community of Battlement Mesa, Colorado that are south and east of Interstate 70; south of County 
Road 301; west of the eastern boundary of Township 7 South, Range 95 West, sections 12 and 13; 
north and west of the White River National Forest boundary, and east of the western boundary of 
Township 8 South, Range 96 West, section 14.

Prohibited Acts:
1. You must not enter or use BLM lands described in this order.
2. You must not use the roads or trails in the area described in this order.

Exemptions: The following persons are exempt from this order: Federal, state, and local officers 
and employees in the performance of their official duties; members of organized rescue or 
fire-fighting forces in the performance of their official duties; and persons with written 
authorization from the BLM.

Penalties: Any person who violates the above rules and/or restriction may be tried before a United 
States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. 
Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571

For more information:
BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, (970) 876-9000.

LARRY SANDOVAL

Digitally signed by LARRY SANDOVAL
Date: 2023.06.27 18:42:15
-06'00'

Larry W. Sandoval, Field Manager