Walker Fire Update #7 (Lee Vining)
Date: August 17, 2015
Time: 8:00p
Subject: Walker Fire Update
Date Started: 8/14/2015
Cause: Human
Total Personnel: 468
Injuries/Illnesses to Date: 0
Size: 3,770 acres
Structures Threatened: 235
Percent Contained: 10%
Resources: 5 helicopters, 0 seats 2 Air tankers Engines 18 ,Crews 5 ,Water Tenders 1 Dozers 2
Structures Lost: 0
Estimated Containment: 8/23/2015
Air Support and Ground Crews continue to suppress Walker Fire
Lee Vining, CA: The Walker Fire is currently burning approximately two miles southwest of Lee Vining. This is a human-caused fire that is still under investigation.
Today crews strengthened firelines at the heel of the fire. Crews are also mopping up (cooling hot spots along the fire’s edge) to further secure these direct lines.
The northern flank was active this morning and crews responded to a 65-acre spot fire in Horse Meadow. A mixture of hand crews, engine crews, dozers, and aerial resources worked this spot and the active fire edge today and made excellent progress at slowing the fire’s growth. Crews here will continue to construct and strengthen the fireline and are mopping up where they can.
The Tioga Road (Highway120) is open without an escort. However, there will no stopping along the eastern six miles of the road. This will be strictly enforced. The fire remains active to the south of the road and this is essential for firefighter and public safety.
The fire is burning is mixed conifer, mahogany, and brush. Critical sage grouse habitat is also threatened. Visitors and residents should expect to see smoke from the June Lake and Lee Vining area and along Highway 395.
Closures and Evacuations:
• Walker Lake “Fishing Camp” has been evacuated.
• A CodeRed Emergency Alert notice has been issued for Lee Vining and everything north of Double Eagle in June Lake (including Silver Lake and Grant Lake areas) for potential evacuations.
• Campgrounds in the Lower Lee Vining Canyon have been evacuated and are closed, including Lower Lee Vining, Moraine, Boulder, Aspen Grove, and Big Bend Campgrounds.
• The Walker Lake Road (1N17), the Parker Lake Rd. (1S25), the Upper Horse Meadows Rd. (1N16), and the Gibbs Road (1N18) are closed for fire operations and public safety. All of these roads are accessed via the northern end of the June Lake Loop. All spur roads off of these roads are also closed. The trail to Mono Pass (trailhead is at Walker Lake) is closed.
Approximately 400 firefighters are on scene as well as numerous aircraft, dozers, and engines. Resources from Mono County, local fire departments, Cal Fire, neighboring forests, BLM Bishop Field Office, and the Mono County Sheriff’s Office are assigned. For more information on the Walker Fire you can got to the following sites: Inciweb:http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4515/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inyonfhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Mono-Count...
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(photo by Gregg Boydston)
