Wildfires Information Thread

[Mark Sedenquist]

This thread will be used to post news of use to roadtrippers this fire season.

The fastest growing fire is in Idaho right now...

*** The Jefferson fire started on the Idaho National Laboratory site on July 13, 2010 approximately 7 miles northwest of Atomic City, Idaho. The fire, driven by 45 mile per hour winds, has burned approximately 109,436 acres.

[Dominic Longo]

http://www.nifc.gov/

That's the governments official site on wild fire news.

[CalOldBlue]

I really like this interactive wildland fire website: GEOMAC

[Mark Sedenquist]

From this afternoon's Incident Report:

The Mono Fire is burning in the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area of the Inyo National Forest. It is burning in between US 395 and the north end of the Mono Craters, south of Highway 120 East. Highway 120 East is currently closed past the turn-off to the dump. Test Station Road and the day use areas at South Tufa and Navy Beach on the shores of Mono Lake all remain closed. The fire is currently 1200 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For information on alternative sites to visit at Mono Lake, please call the Scenic Area Visitor Center at 760-647-3044.

[Mark Sedenquist]

7-28-2010: The Clinetop Road is currently open. If you plan on traveling this route, please use extreme caution since you will be sharing the road with fire traffic. The Clinetop Road may close on short notice if fire behavior increases.

The Meadow Creek Fire is burning in the upper reaches of Main Elk Creek, approximately 8 miles northwest of New Castle and is being managed for multiple resource objectives. No structures are immediately at risk. The Hadley Gulch Trail (Trail #1840) and Main Elk Research Natural Area is closed for public protection.

The weather continued to cooperate with fire managers. Cooler temperatures and light precipitation have resulted in minimal fire spread and smoke, however if weather conditions change more active fire behavior can be expected.

[Midwest Michael]

Out of curiosity, have you heard if the Kern County fires are causing any road closures?

Last I saw, the Tehachapi fire was still about 5 miles from CA-58, but it looks like the Bull fire could be a big problem? From what I read, it looks like that is really causing problems along the road that goes from Lake Isabella/Kernville up into the Sequoia National Monument, and possibly even far enough north to cause problems for people looking to take Sherman Pass?

[Mark Sedenquist]

TEHACHAPI, CA – The West Fire is now 25% contained. Update on acreage is 1400

It doesn't really look like it will threaten CA-58 and it would really have to go wild to reach the Sherman Pass area,

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yeah, that one's a problem....

I really like this area... what a bummer

Here's the official report

VERY Active fire behavior today. Projected movement: North and east. Fire actively burning on both sides (west and east) of the Upper Kern River, above Kernville.

Yeah, this is heading for the Sherman Pass road... Darn.

mark