USFS news releases

Bishop, Calif. — A new fire was detected on the Mono Lake District last night, west of Crater Mountain off of Highway 120 East at approximately 6:15 p.m. Firefighters quickly responded to the Rest Fire and took full suppression action with the aid of a helicopter. The fire was contained at under an acre. Firefighters also extinguished a series of spot fires, believed to be human caused, after 10:00 p.m. on Hwy 395 near Sherwin Grade.

The Inyo National Forest has been suppressing and managing three other natural lightning caused fires that were ignited on July 25, 2019.

Cow Fire: The 65 acre Cow Fire is located 23 miles southwest of Lone Pine, California, at 9500’ elevation deep within the Golden Trout Wilderness. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one objective for incident managers. Due to the remote wilderness location and rugged terrain, Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics or MIST are being used.

The two crews assigned to the fire are using natural fire barriers such as steep cliffs and sparse discontinuous vegetation. Light haze may be visible in Owen’s Valley due to the Cow Fire and other fires in the area. A total of 31 personnel and one helicopter are working the Cow Fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is now in place. After today the Cow Fire will be producing a separate fire update with information on the current situation for the fire.

Kelty Fire: The 3 acre Kelty Fire is located on the north side of Glass Mountain. Fire Activity is minimal, mostly just creeping and smoldering with 3-6” flame lengths. There are many natural barriers, and vegetation is sparse and discontinuous. Very little fire growth is occurring at this time. Fire computer models show a potential growth and subsequent containment area of up to 2,000 acres. Fire managers are considering the best strategies for management and containment of the Kelty Fire, including suppression and managing for resource benefit.

Springs Fire: The Springs Fire is currently being managed by Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office’s Type 3 Incident Management Organization with a containment strategy that includes reintroducing fire into the landscape in its natural role. Tactical firing operations to containment lines continued yesterday. More Information is published on the Springs Fire in a separate update and on Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6477/

Springs Fire – 13 miles SE of Lee Vining

Update Aug. 18

Incident Start Date: 7/26/2019 Cause: Lightning Size: 1,984 acres Containment: 23%

Incident Type: Suppression/Multiple Objectives Vegetation Type: Brush and timber

Agency: Inyo National Forest, U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Resources Assigned: Engines: 13 Helicopters: 1 Crews: 7 Water Tenders: 3 Total Personnel: 222

Current Situation: Firefighters will monitor and hold containment lines on portions of the Springs Fire today aswell as continue to apply fire, tactically to bring the fire to containment lines.

The Springs Fire is currently being managed by a type three incident management organization with a containment strategy that includes reintroducing fire into the landscape in its’ natural role. Today, lighter smoke and haze from the Springs Fire is

expected to move toward the eastern Mono Basin, north of Benton. The latest daily air quality forecasts and site by site details can be found at- https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/InyoNationalForest

The Who’s Who of the Incident Management Organization: The Logistics Section Chief is responsible for providing facilities, services, and materials in support of the incident. The Logistics Section provides everything the firefighters need to live in their home away from home and to do their job.

They are responsible for communications and radios, medical services, food, supplies, security, and offices and sleeping areas. “We are here to support the line,” said Springs Fire Logistics Section Chief, Randy Jackson. “Meeting people’s needs can range from simple things like mentioning quiet hours in sleeping areas and making lunches available on time; to major things such as relocating a base camp in time for a community event or school opening.”

Closure Order: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is now in place for the Springs fire. Please go to the following link https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_9_7847.html for detailed information about the TFR.

Forest Order No. 05-04-50-19-09 is in effect for some roads leading into the Springs fire to provide for public and firefighter safety. See Exhibit B of the Forest Order for a description of the exact closure area, or the provided closure map here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6477/

For the latest information try these sources:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6477/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/inyonf

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