Single Publication

Resources: 2,284 Personnel, 57 Hand Crews, 112 Engines, 17 Helicopters, 14 Dozers, 13 Water Tenders
Structures Threatened: 2,000 Residences, 100 Commercial Buildings
Structures Destroyed: 14 Residences, 14 Outbuildings, 2 Commercial Buildings
Injuries: 4

EVACUATION ORDER DOWNGRADED: Effective at 12 noon today, Sheriff Boudreaux will downgrade the Evacuation Order for the following communities: California Hot Springs and Pine Flat. The following communities will remain in an Evacuation Order: White River Summer Home Tract, Sugarloaf Saw Mill, Sugarloaf Mountain Park.

TULARE COUNTY RESIDENT INFORMATION: Residents requesting information on the status of their property can call the Tulare County Information Hotline at (559) 802-9790. Affected property owners should complete the September Lighting Fire Information Form online at: https://bit.ly/3ETdZjI.

CURRENT SITUATION: The Windy Fire is 94,746, acres with 68% containment and is a full suppression fire. The fire is burning on the Tule River Indian Reservation and the Sequoia National Forest, which includes the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The fire increased 2,273 acres in the last 24 hours.

The fire’s perimeter is over 200 miles long and crews have now completed and secured 68 percent of the containment lines around the fire. To ensure the fire doesn’t escape containment, firefighters continue tactical patrols looking for and extinguishing any burning trees, stumps and vegetation within the fire’s perimeter. They also are falling hazard trees along roadways to make passage safe for vehicles. Two areas remain a priority for securing containment; the northwest side on the Tule River Indian Reservation south to M50 (at the switchbacks), and the eastside in the Kern River Canyon from Johnsondale south to Baker Peak.

On the northwest side, indirect dozer line and handlines have been completed from M50, at the switchbacks, northwest to Lone Pine Mountain and to Wheatons on the Tule River Indian Reservation. Crews continue to look for opportunities to directly attack the active fire front and stop its movement to the west. In the rugged and accessible drainages where it is not safe for firefighters to work, crews are implementing a tactical firing operation to remove vegetation between the indirect containment line and the fire’s edge. The firing operation is expected to take several days to complete.

On the eastside in the Kern River Canyon, crews are building line south to Speas Ridge and from Baker Peak north towards Ant Canyon. South of Speas Ridge the area is very rugged and inaccessible and helicopters are being used to drop water and fire retardant to cool hot spots.  If the smoke inversion lifts, the Bombardier CL-515, (Super Scooper) planes are on standby in Bakersfield and will be available to help with suppression efforts. Crews are also removing brush and vegetation along the Whiskey Flat Trail (32E35) to improve a secondary containment line. Structure defense engines are in place in Fairview.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: A weak high pressure system will remain over the region today with dry conditions and warmer than normal temperatures.

EVACUATION ORDERS: The following information is from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Evacuation orders and warnings can change suddenly. Please refer to the Windy Fire Evacuation Warning Map at https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ or call 2-1-1 for the latest information.

• White River Summer Home Tract, Sugarloaf Saw Mill, Sugarloaf Mountain Park
• Mountain Aire and Rogers Camp.
• Johnsondale and Camp Whitsett, including M107 at Dome Rock, east to Lloyd Meadow Road (FS Road 22S82), south to M99 at Sherman Pass Road, west to M107 and M50.
• The area of McNally’s from Sherman Pass Road to Corral Creek.

• Both sides of the Kern River from the Gold Ledge Campground south to Riverkern, Tulare County, at the Tulare/Kern border. This warning will include all private properties, businesses, residences, structures, campsites, campgrounds, Forest Service roads, access roads, attached roads, and trails.
• Alpine Village, Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Coy Flat, Pierpoint, Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa, and Sequoia Crest.
• Sugarloaf Village, Panorama Heights, Poso Park, Idlewild, Pleasant View, Balance Rock, Posey, and Vincent Ranch. The boundaries will be from Sugarloaf Peak west to Buck Peak; south to Vincent Ranch at the Tulare/ Kern County Line; east to Forest Service Road 24S07; and north to Sugarloaf Peak.
• California Hot Springs and Pine Flat areas. The evacuation order includes M-504 at Tyler Creek, Southeast to Pine Flat, West to M-56 and Fire Control Road, North up Tyler Creek Road. This includes structures, side roads, and all attached roads.

• At Jack Ranch Road and Old Stage Road
• Quaking Aspen and M107
• MT99 at Goldledge Campground
• MT56 at Fountain Springs
• M50 at the Hot Springs Ranger Station for northbound traffic
• FS Road 23S05
• Sherman Pass Road at Blockrock Ranger Station