Re: Wildfire Ignites in Buttermilk Area

Wildfire Ignites in Buttermilk Area
Release Date: May 26, 2011 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham


Fire resources from multiple agencies have rushed to the scene of a wildland fire in a region of the Inyo National Forest known as the Buttermilk area, popular with climbing enthusiasts. According to officials from the Interagency Dispatch Center in Bishop, the fire broke out shortly after noon and quickly spread due to very high and erratic winds. Firefighters and overhead personnel from the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire and the Bishop Fire Department all responded to the scene. As of late Wednesday afternoon the fire had burned approximately 75 to 100 acres of brush and grass 10 miles west of Bishop, CA.

Combined resources from various agencies responded a dozen engines, 6 hand crews, 3 bulldozers and miscellanious overhead personnel. In addition to the firefighting resources, cooperators include the Inyo County Sheriffs Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Additional resources ordered for the fire include hand crews, engines and two air tankers. Fire officials cautioned that the strong winds could ground the air resources at anytime adding to the difficulty of firefighting.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Buttermilk Fire Update May 26, 2011, 11:00 am
Release Date: May 26, 2011 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Buttermilk Fire burning in the Buttermilk Country west of Bishop is now at 250 acres and is considered to be 50% contained. Most of this acreage burned late yesterday, and despite some winds during the night there was very little active burning throughout the night.

170 people are currently assigned to the Buttermilk Fire including 11 engines, six hand crews, 1 helicopter, 1 dozer and miscellaneous overhead. Some winds are predicted for today, but so far have been light, allowing crews to make good headway in securing a line all around the fire. Full containment is estimated at 6:00 this evening.

Yesterday when the fire began the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department and the Forest Service evacuated approximately 20 campers from the area, and the area remains closed to entry today while fire suppression activites are continuing. At present the Buttermilk Road and the road leading out of Starlite to the Buttermilk are both closed.

Agencies cooperating in the Buttermilk Fire Suppression effort include the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department.

The fire has been determined to be human caused, but the exact cause is still under investigation.

For more information please call Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427 or visit Inciweb.org.

As of Thursday noon, the fire has not grown in size and lighter winds have allowed the crews to make good headway and the fire is considered 50% contained.

Buttermilk Fire Update May 26, 2011 4:00 pm
Release Date: May 26, 2011 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

As of 4:00 Thursday afternoon, May 26, the Buttermilk Fire which has been burning in the Buttermilk Country west of Bishop is still on track to be 100% contained at 6:00 this evening. The Buttermilk Road, and the road leading out of Starlite into the Buttermilk, are scheduled to reopen at 9:00 tonight.

Crews having been working throughout the day on putting out hotspots and constructing fireline, and the absense of significant winds has allowed them to make great progress.

Crews and equipment, including the helicopter, are going to be released from the fire tonight and tomorrow, however some crews will stay assigned to the fire throughout the weekend. At this time fire weather forecasts call for very low humidity and very strong winds on Saturday.

Agencies cooperating in the Buttermilk Fire suppression effort include the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, CalFire, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Bishop Volunteer Fire Department, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and CalTrans.

The fire has been determined to be human caused, but the exact cause is still under investigation.

For more information please call Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427 or go to http://www.inciweb.org/

I wonder if Horton Creek campground is affected? The only time I've ever seen it full is memorial day weekend (along with all the surrounding campgrounds) due to Mule Days in Bishop. Not a good time to have lots of prime camping territory off limits. Glad I'm planning on playing south of there this weekend.

If the must have Mule Days, I really wish they'd pick a better time for it.

Buttermilk Fire Update May 27, 2011 12:00 noon
Release Date: May 27, 2011 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Forest Service is Asking for the Public’s Cooperation

The Buttermilk Fire is now 100% contained and the roads into the area have been re-opened. There is access to all of the bouldering areas and camping is allowed on national forest land. As a reminder, a Campfire Permit is required for all campfires, BBQs and stoves.

Crews are still assigned to the Buttermilk Fire and they are working to put out any hotspots that remain in the burn area as they do a general mop-up from the fire. Over 120 people are still assigned to the fire.

The Forest Service is asking the cooperation of everyone who wants to go into the Buttermilk area. If you go up there please:

• Slow down and watch for emergency vehicles and crews working on the fire
• Do not go behind barricades on side roads – crews are still working on hotspots in these areas
• Stay out of burned areas – hazardous hotspots still remain
• Please be smart and extinguish all campfires completely – use caution with BBQs, stoves, matches, and cigarettes - at this time fire weather forecasts call for very low humidity and very strong winds on Saturday.

Agencies cooperating in the Buttermilk Fire suppression effort have been the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, CalFire, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Bishop Volunteer Fire Department, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and CalTrans.

The fire has been determined to be human caused, but the exact cause is still under investigation.

For more information please call Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427 or go to http://www.inciweb.org/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2011 03:59PM by eeek.