Fire Spread Stops in the Golden Trout Wilderness

US Forest Service, Sequoia National Forest
Contact: Denise Alonzo
Fire Spread Stops in the Golden Trout Wilderness

Springville, CA., July 10, 2009...The Shotgun Fire, located in the Golden Trout Wilderness where Shotgun Creek flows into the Little Kern River grew to 900 acres but is not expected to grow any larger. With the fire spread diminished, firefighters are being released to go home. Fire lookouts will continue to monitor the fire for flare-ups and if necessary utilize a helicopter to take a closer look until it is declared out.

In cooperation with our federal firefighting partners the Forest Service has changed our approach to implementing the current federal fire policy in order to simplify terminology and increase our flexibility in meeting wildland fire management goals. A wildland fire may be concurrently managed for one or more objectives and those objectives can change as the fire spreads across the landscape, encountering new fuels, weather, social conditions, and governmental jurisdictions.

"Firefighter and public safety are the overriding priorities in all wildland fire management on the Western Divide Ranger District" stated District Ranger Priscilla Summers. "The Shotgun fire provided us with an opportunity to manage the fire strategically; allowing one side of the fire to burn to benefit the resources while stopping the spread on the other side because it had potential to damage resources."
The current condition of the Golden Trout Wilderness and surrounding Giant Sequoia National Monument shows the absence of natural fire. The Shotgun fire gave managers the opportunity to allow fire to help restore natural ecological processes. Fire has been excluded from the ecosystems for so long, careful analysis and management of these fires is needed to improve habitat for animals and fish, coordinate smoke management with air districts and improve the overall health of the forest.