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Windy Fire
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- Sequoia National ForestEmail:Phone:559-539-2607Hours:Mon - Fri 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Windy Fire Update, September 28, 2021
Windy Fire
Publication Type: News -
Structures Threatened: 2,000 Residences, Commercial 100, Structures Destroyed: Commercial, 2
TULARE COUNTY RESIDENT INFORMATION: Today, Tulare County will begin assessing the damage to homes and property in the Sugarloaf and Pine Flat Areas. Community members impacted by the Windy Fire 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. People who have cabins in Summer Home Tracts on the Forest will be contacted by the Sequoia National Forest.
CURRENT SITUATION: The Windy Fire is 87,318, acres with 4% containment and is a full suppression fire. The fire is burning on the Tule River Indian Reservation and the Sequoia National Forest, including the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The fire perimeter increased 1,935 acres in the last 24 hours.
Yesterday, gusty westerly winds up to 40 miles per hour tested containment lines on the east perimeter. From Ponderosa south to Johnsondale, the containment lines held and no spot fires were observed outside of the perimeter of the fire. On the south and southeast side, the fire remained very active between Baker Peak and Tobias Peak. The fire has burned into the 2016 Cedar Fire scar, which has moderated fire activity. Today, a cold front will move through the area bringing gusty westerly winds up to 40 MPH on the ridgetops and upper slopes. The winds will provide favorable conditions (winds blow the active fire back in to the area already burned) for conducting defensible firing operations on the west side of the fire.
Today, the priority remains on the southwest side in Sugarloaf and Pine Flat areas. Fire engines continue to engage in structure defense and extinguishing hotspots (burning tree stumps, downed logs, etc.) along the dozer and hand lines that extend into California Hot Springs.
On the northwest side, favorable winds will allow crews to continue conducting a defensible firing operation southward toward Wheatons. The firing operation removes vegetation and provides a black line to slow the fires progress westward on the Tule River Indian Reservation. Ground crews will be were supported by water dropping helicopters. Crews also continue to construct indirect (away from the fire edge) dozer lines from Wheatons south to Corral Hill in order to stop the fires progress to the West.
On the north side, crews continue to improve existing containment lines along the Coy Flat Road (FS Road 21S94) northeast to Coy Flat. Their efforts have been successful in keeping the fire south of Camp Nelson. Crews and engines are in place in Camp Nelson and Mountainaire.
On the northeast side near Ponderosa, crews continue holding and improving containment lines from the Western Divide Highway (M50) east to Lloyd Meadow Road (FS Road 22S28) and south to Johnsondale. With the increased winds today, firefighters will be looking for any hotspots caused by blowing embers or debris.
On the east-southeast side, the fire remains active from Flynn Canyon south to Tobias Peak. Crews continue to work along the Sugarloaf Road (23S1) towards the Spear Creek Summer Home Tract improving fire lines and providing structure defense. The fire is backing down slope east towards the Kern River. The Fire Behavior Specialist briefed firefighters this morning to be on the look out for increased fire activity in an area below Baker Point that did not burn in either the Cedar or McNally fires. Crews will continue clearing around structures in the Fairview area as the fire moves closer.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: The Incident Meteorologist is forecasting gusty westerly winds on the upper ridges and slopes, up to 40 MPH. Very cool conditions are expected with temperatures in the 50 to 60’s range.
EVACUATIONS ORDERS: The following information is from the Tulare County Sherriff’s Office. Evacuation orders and warnings can change suddenly, please refer to https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ for Windy Fire Evacuation Warning Area Map. For more information, please call 2-1-1.
- The communities of Sugarloaf, Sugarloaf Mountain Park, Sugarloaf Saw Mill, White River, Idlewild, Posey, Panorama Heights, Poso, Balance Rock, Spear Creek, from the existing Hot Springs Evacuation Order west to King George Peak, south to County M56, including Oak Flat, Twin Peak, to Vincent Ranch at the Tulare-Kern Counties Border, east to Portuguese Peak, and back north to Dunlap Meadow.
- 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 attached roads.
- Camp Nelson and surrounding communities.
- 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.
- Ponderosa and Quaking Aspen. The warning area includes M107 at Dome Rock, north to Highway 190/M90 at North Road (FS Road 21S50), east to Route 21S05, at Needles Trail, south to Lloyd Meadow at Lower Peppermint Road (FS Road 22S82).
- The areas of McNally’s. From Sherman Pass Road to Corral Creek.
Both sides of the Kern River from the Gold Ledge Campground south to River Kern, 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.
ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
- At Jack Ranch Road and Old Stage Road
- Highway 190 and Rio Vista
- MT99 at Gold Ledge Campground
- MT56 at Fountain Springs
EVACUATION CENTER: A evacuation center is in place at Porterville College on 100 E. College Ave. Older individuals (60+) who need assistance with evacuation may call the senior hotline at 1-800-321-2462. For more information, visit https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ or call 2-1-1.
WINDY FIRE ANIMAL EVACUATION CENTER: Domestic animals and poultry are being accepted at the Tulare County Animal Service Shelter, 14131 Avenue 256, Visalia, CA 93292. Large animals and livestock can be taken to the International Agri-Center, 4500 S Laspina St, Tulare, CA 93274.
DAILY SMOKE OUTLOOK: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/SouthernSierra-Sequoia AirNow: Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURES: Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia for more information and a map of the closed areas.
HUNTING IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST: Hunting is possible outside of Forest Closure areas. Please refer to the link above for areas closed to public access at this time.