Lions Fire Morning Update 7-5-18

The Lions Fire is located in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and has grown to 2959 acres. Ignited by a lightning strike that was detected in early June, the fire is burning in rugged terrain primarily in the Stairway Creek drainage, north and west of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. Fire activity moderated in recent days as the fire reached previously burned areas, including the 2017 Butte Fire footprint to the west, and the 1992 Rainbow Fire footprint to the east. Yesterday’s firefighting efforts were focused on the southwest side of the fire, north of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, and the northeast side, near Summit Meadow.

A community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, June 28, 2018, at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, 2510 Main St, at 6:00 pm. Interested members of the public and media are encouraged to attend. Fire management staff will be present to answer questions.

All lodging and recreational services are open in Mammoth Lakes and Devils Postpile National Monument. The Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail are open at this time. The following lateral trails leading into the fire area will be closed in the near future: Sierra NF: 26E01 (Mammoth Trail) to the Inyo NF Boundary, 26E56, 26E14, and 2646 from the Inyo NF boundary. Inyo NF trail closures include 26E01 from the Sierra NF to 2601 junction, and 2601 from the boundary of the Inyo NF and Devils Postpile National Monument (King Creek Trail).

Fire plays an essential role in maintaining forest health. The Lions Fire is reducing heavy fuel loads in areas with no recent fire history, which promotes forest resiliency and reduces drought stress. The fire is currently staffed by 266 people, including seven crews of firefighters and eight helicopters. Aircraft is providing logistical support to firefighters and cooling hot spots near fireline construction.

Air quality and smoke forecasts are available at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/. To see smoke impacts in the area, visit webcams at http://www.mammothmountain.com. For more information, see https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5850/

Overnight the Lions Fire spread only slightly to the southwest and is now at 3,007 acres. Winds are expected to be lighter today which may help firefighters with their containment efforts. The fire is now 5% contained. Crews continue working on building and securing containment lines primarily along the eastern and southwest edges. The lightning caused fire was detected in early June and is currently burning in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. It is located primarily in the Stairway Creek drainage, north and west of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River.

A community meeting is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, June 28, at the US Forest Service Auditorium located across the pavilion from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, 2510 Main St, at 6:00 pm. Interested members of the public and media are encouraged to attend. Fire management staff will be present to answer questions.

All lodging and recreational services are open in Mammoth Lakes and Devils Postpile National Monument. The Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail are open at this time. The following lateral trails leading into the fire area will be closed in the near future: Sierra NF: 26E01 (Mammoth Trail) to the Inyo NF Boundary, 26E56, 26E14, and 2646 from the Inyo NF boundary. Inyo NF trail closures include 26E01 from the Sierra NF to 2601 junction, and 2601 from the boundary of the Inyo NF and Devils Postpile National Monument (King Creek Trail).

Wildland fire, just as wind and weather, has helped shape the beauty of the Sierra Nevada and is an integral and necessary part of the ecosystem. The Lions Fire will help diminish the risk of future fires in the area being larger, more destructive, and harder to control. The fire is currently staffed by 330 people, including seven handcrews and seven helicopters. The handcrews are remaining overnight at camps around the fire’s perimeter and are being supported by mules and helicopters.

Smoke dispersion simulation for the Lions fire (you have to select CA/NV):


https://tools.airfire.org/websky/v1/run/standard/CANSAC-2km/2018070312/#viewer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2018 10:35AM by KenS.

The Lions Fire is currently 3,850 acres and 50% contained. Yesterday’s burn-out operations were effective with good fuel consumption, resulting in strengthened fireline and reduced vegetation and dead and down wood throughout the burned area. Crews plan to complete the remainder of burn-out operations by hand today. Smoke production from the Lions Fire is expected to be reduced today, and will continue to decrease throughout the coming week. Fires elsewhere in the region may affect air quality in the coming days.

Nearly 20 miles of fire perimeter have been mapped for containment with handline or natural barriers, and air resources have logged approximately 680 flight hours. Operations are drawing down, and several crews and helicopters have been released to respond to other fires, regionally and nationally. Five crews currently remain on the fireline, and are focusing their efforts on the northern part of the fire.

This lightning-caused fire was detected in early June, and is located in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. It is located primarily in the Stairway Creek drainage, north and west of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River.

The following National Forest System Trails near the burned area have been temporarily closed: Sierra National Forest Trails No. 26E01 (Mammoth Trail) to the Inyo NF Boundary, 26E14, 26E56, and 26E46 from the Inyo NF boundary. Inyo NF trail closures include 26E01 from the Sierra NF to 2601 junction, and 2601 from the boundary of the Inyo NF and Devils Postpile National Monument (King Creek Trail). Trail closures will remain in place until fire management staff determines that it is safe to reopen the area for recreational use.

Shuttles to Devils Postpile National Monument and Reds Meadow Valley are running, and trails there are open. The Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail are open. Visitors should expect smoke impacts of variable intensity.

The Lions Fire showed no growth yesterday, and continues to be 4,000 acres and 60% contained. Crews remaining on the fire are reinforcing and securing the fireline, in order to ensure that it will hold as conditions become drier and hotter throughout the summer. Higher winds are projected for today and tomorrow, and crews are monitoring for threats to the line or spot fires. There are still unburned pockets of fuel within the unit, which will continue to be consumed in the coming weeks. A small amount of smoke production is likely to continue during this process, without creating significant impacts for nearby communities.

Air quality in Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding areas is expected to continue to be slightly affected by smoke from larger wildfires elsewhere in the state, such as the County Fire in Yolo County, CA. Residents and visitors are advised to limit their exertion outdoors should periods of heavy smoke occur.

As the need for active firefighting decreases, firefighters are reducing the impacts that fire operations have had upon the wilderness character of the area, a process known as “suppression repair.” Techniques may include repairing damaged trails, clearing cut trees and brush, or creating simple drainage structures to prevent erosion.

Located between the footprints of previous fires, the Lions Fire is contributing to diverse and healthy forest ecology. The area will ultimately be more resilient in drought conditions, and better protected against future wildfires.

The following National Forest System Trails near the Lions Fire area have been temporarily closed: Sierra National Forest Trails No. 26E01 (Mammoth Trail) to the Inyo NF Boundary, 26E14, 26E56, and 26E46 from the Inyo NF boundary. Inyo NF trail closures include 26E01 from the Sierra NF to 2601 junction. Trail closures will remain in place until fire management staff determines that it is safe to reopen the area.

Shuttles to Devils Postpile National Monument and Reds Meadow Valley are running, and trails there are open. The Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail are open. Visitors should expect smoke impacts of variable intensity.

Due to decreasing fire operations, further updates will be issued only if warranted by a change in conditions.