Single Publication

Acreage Remains Unchanged on Sheering Fire

Aviation Resources on Scene Since July 2

Acreage: 370

Percent Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: 60

Inciweb Entry: Castf 2024 Sheering Fire Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov)

Incident Images: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBxnar

SONORA, California, July 4, 2024— Fire crews on the Stanislaus National Forest saw no growth on the Sheering Fire over the last 24 hours, holding at 370 acres.

“The fire is primarily flanking into Lost Creek,” explained Incident Commander, Shaun Craig. “There’s small short-lived uphill runs occurring from roll out into the drainages.”

Single and group tree torching has been observed in areas outside of dense snag patches where the canopy is still intact due to decadent shrub growth. Numerous snags in the area have fallen and drastically increased the fuel loading though it does not have much impact on the rate of spread.

In addition to ground resources on scene, air resources have been assigned to the Sheering Fire since July 2 – since then, the Stanislaus National Forest Helitak crew has dropped more than 17,000 gallons of water on the fire. Helitak Superintendent Patrick Keener explained that before being assigned the Sheering fire his resources were assigned to other, higher priority incidents.

“That was when we had that unusual lighting event on June 24 – our crews were extinguishing fires in the Clavey River Drainage as well as assigned to two fires down in Mariposa County,” Keener explained.

“Fire burning in the Clavey River drainage is a recipe for disaster,” said Craig, noting the Clavey River drainage was where the 2013 Rim Fire started. “So the decision was made at the time to prioritize air resources on those incidents.”

For more information please contact Forest Public Affairs Officer, Benjamin Cossel at Benjamin.cossel@usda.gov or 209.288.6261.