Single Publication

Windy Fire Update-Saturday, October 9, 2021

Start Date 9/9

Cause Lightning

Size 97,554

Percent Containment 82

Helicopters 13

Engines 41

Crews 32

Dozers 10

Total Personnel 1287

CURRENT CONDITIONS: Yesterday’s wetting rain minimized fire activity and growth across the fire. Fire activity is expected to be minimal to moderate today with lower relative humidities than yesterday.

Along access roads and containment lines, within the Sequoia National Forest, crews are conducting mop-up work to reinforce the fireline and make the area safer for firefighters and, eventually, the public. Firefighters are felling hazardous standing trees that are dead or dying and extinguishing pockets of fire. Infared flights are scheduled to detect hot spots that remain in areas with rugged terrain more difficult to access.

Containment lines are likely to be tested on Monday when an anticipated storm brings wind gusts as high as 60 miles per hour.

Please be cautious when travelling on re-opened roads this holiday weekend. Expect extra traffic and fire personnel commuting on the roads.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: The weekend forecast over the fire calls for drier conditions, but stormy weather is forecast for Monday. Weather and fire behavior experts on the Great Basin Incident Management Team 6 warn that increased wind speeds could change fire dynamics, especially at higher elevations and along the Western Divide.

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 Lightning Fire Information Form online at: https://bit.ly/3ETdZjI. Residents can sign up to receive county emergency notifications by registering at AlertTC.com.  

EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS: Because evacuation orders and warnings change often as fire containment grows, evacuees should refer to the Windy Fire Evacuation Warning Map at https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ or call 211 for the latest information. Evacuation updates can be found on Inciweb at Inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7841 and Facebook @SequoiaNF.  

According to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, evacuation orders are in effect in the following areas: 

• 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 (Forest Service Road 22S82), south to M99 at Sherman Pass Road, west to M107 and M50  

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation warnings for the following roads and areas:

• The McNallys area (Sherman Pass Road to Corral Creek, the community of R Ranch, structures, Forest Ser-vice roads, dirt roads, access roads, attached roads, and campgrounds).
  
  

• Both sides of the Kern River from the Goldledge 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 

   

• A roadblock is in effect at M99 and R Ranch and M50 and M107  

   

  ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: Updates on road closures can be found on Inciweb at Inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7841 and Facebook @SequoiaNF.  

  The following roads are closed: 

• At Jack Ranch Road and Old Stage Road  

• Quaking Aspen and M107  

• MT56 at Fountain Springs  

• M50 at the Hot Springs Ranger Station for northbound traffic  

• Forest Service Road 23S05