Round Fire Update, Swall Meadows (8:00am on 2/11)

Round Fire Update (8:00am on 2/11)

Good morning, everyone! Here is the latest official update from Cal Fire on the Round Fire:

Location: Paradise and Swall Meadows
Acres: 7,000
Containment: 98%
Structures Destroyed: 40
Structures Damaged: 5
Structures Threatened: No Immediate Threat
Injuries: 4 firefighters
Cause: Under Investigation
Personnel Assigned: 100+

Current situation: Smoking debris may be seen on the western edge of the fire. This debris does not pose a threat to residents.

Re-population of the Paradise and Swall Meadows communities began at 4:00pm on Monday and continues this morning. Residents of Paradise and Swall Meadows will need a valid form of identification to receive their access pass. Access passes can be obtained by the Mono County Sheriff's Office personnel at the Command Post located at Pine Creek Road and Lower Rock Creek Road. Passes are necessary for all entry into the area. At this time, only residents of Paradise and Swall Meadows can gain entry into these communities.

We ask that residents use extreme caution in and around damaged and destroyed homes. Structural instability, hot ash pockets, and fire weaken chimneys pose a risk for injury. Remember to use gloves and a dust mask when working around fire debris.

American Red Cross: The Red Cross is available in two locations to assist victims in their recovery process. A mobile unit is staged at the Wheeler Crest Fire Department in Swall Meadows. The Red Cross is also housed at the Crowley Lake Community Center.

Utilities: SCE is still in the communities working extremely hard to restore and maintain power for all residents. If for some reason you remain without power, please be patient with SCE as they work to ensure complete power is restored. They have been working literally around the clock to repair all damage in the fire areas.

Donations and resources: There are several donation centers in and around Mono and Inyo Counties. Please visit https://gis.mono.ca.gov/roundfire for complete information and a list of available locations. We sincerely THANK EVERYONE for the generosity during this very devastating fire. The local response in this time of need has been phenomenal. The residents, visitors and businesses of the Eastern Sierra sure have big hearts! Many thanks, again, to everyone!

Many thanks to the following cooperative agencies that remain on scene to ensure safety of all the residents of Swall Meadows and Paradise: Cal Fire, Inyo National Forest (USFS), BLM, Wheeler Crest Fire Department, Paradise Fire Department, Inyo County Sheriff's Office, Mono County Sheriff's Office, CHP, CalTrans, Cal OES.

May today be another step forward for us all! - Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer