The Marina Fire is 819 acres this evening and is 30% contained. The fire is located north of Lee Vining and west of Mono Lake and is burning in pinyon and brush.

Today crews strengthened the south, east, and north flanks of the fire, again focused on protecting the nearby communities and along Highway 395. Additionally, support from both helicopters, airplanes, and tankers (including the very large air tanker, or VLAT) helped minimize hotspots and slow fire growth, which assisted firefighters on the ground. Crews also worked on contingency lines and scouted options to tie in the western flank.

Highway 395 is closed at the town of Lee Vining on the south at the turnoff for Hawthorne, NV (Highway 167) on the north. However, California Highway Patrol is conducting one-way traffic escorts as conditions allow. Mono County Sheriff and Caltrans District 9 have worked tirelessly with CHP to implement this escort. (Update: 395 is now open) The Tioga Lodge and two additional residences have been evacuated. Lee Vining and Mono City are under an evacuation advisory.

SoCal Team 1 will assume command of the incident tomorrow morning at 6:00 am.

There are approximately 350 personnel on the fire. Eight hand crews, 23 engines, six helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft, two dozers, and three water tenders are assigned to the fire. The fire is under Unified Command with the US Forest Service and Mono County Sheriff’s Office. The fire has been determined to be human-caused and remains under investigation.