Lightning threat increases in forest
Temperatures back into the triple-digets
As efforts increase to contain the Schaeffer Fire burning in the Kern River Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest, forest officials are bracing for a new round of lightning as monsoonal moisture moves into the area.
A red flag warning was issued for Wednesday as the clouds moved up from the south and similar conditions are expected this weekend.
High temperatures in Porterville will be in the 100s, with a 102 forecast for today and then 103 on Friday, before Saturday and Sunday will each see a high of 105. Nighttime lows will be in the upper-60s and low-70s.
The Schaeffer Fire was started by lightning on June 24 and continues to burn 17 miles north of Kernville. As of Wednesday morning, the fire had burned 4,966 acres and management of the fire had been turned over to the Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team.
The fire, which at times can be seen from Porterville, is burning within the 2002 Mcnally Fire footprint and officials are trying to manage it as much as extinguish it.
Firefighters will be using natural barriers such as rock outcroppings or trails and roads as control lines, said the Forest Service. Crews have constructed a handline on the western flank of the fire north of Stony Meadow. They will continue to construct an indirect handline south to intersect with forest roads and trails, and north to the Kern River. Helicopters are making water drops to protect resources in the vicinity of the river and firefighters are scouting on the east side for potential control lines.
The fire is burning in downed logs, snags and 15-year-old whitethorn and mixed brush which is as tall as 3 feet.
The fire is only 17 percent contained and smoke is a problem in Ponderosa and other areas of the Sequoia National Forest. As of Wednesday, 427 personnel were on the fire.
The forest service notes there will be the threat of afternoon and evening thunderstorms, most likely north of the fire area.