Grows less than 100 acres Wednesday night
The Pier Fire, located in the Tule River Canyon above Springville, grew less than 100 acres Wednesday night, but was still at zero percent containment, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
Denise Alonzo, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, said most growth occurred on the fire’s west side in the Tule River drainage west of the Wishon drainage. On the northwest side, Alonzo said the fire also spread downslope toward the Wishon Road, but did not spot across the road.
On the northeast side of the fire, near the community of Sequoia Crest, Alonzo said crews protected structures and constructed contingency firelines away from the fire’s edge in anticipation of the fire advancing northeast. On the east side, near Camp Nelson, Alonzo said the fire moved primarily west and south toward the Tule Indian Reservation.
At an operational briefing Thursday morning, Alonzo said, fire managers clearly identified the objective, which she said was to fully suppress the fire by constructing mainly indirect (i.e., away from the fire’s edge) fireline. Alonzo said the steep, rocky terrain, which is thick in places with vegetation that has not experienced fire in nearly 100 years, poses a threat to firefighters attempting to construct fireline directly at the fire’s edge.
Priorities are to protect threatened residences, to keep the fire south of Mountain Home State Forest, and to protect the sequoia groves, Alonzo said. To help meet those goals, she said, there are 25 hand crews, five helicopters, 25 engines, 15 dozers, six water tenders and 668 fire personnel.
On Thursday, Alonzo said, hand crews, heavy equipment operators and structure-protection engines and firefighters worked on all sides of the fire. If needed, she said they will get assistance from five helicopters assigned to the incident.
Weather and Fire
Behavior Thursday was very hot and dry. She said temperatures approached 103 degrees with a minimum relative humidity as low as 17 percent. Terrain-driven winds remained light, which increased in the afternoon with gusts up to 12-15 mph.
As the inversion lifted and smoke dissipated in the morning, Alonzo said fire activity increased.
Fire Behavior Analyst Jeff Shelton told crews gathered at Thursday’s operational briefing, “If you can breathe better the fire can breathe better.”
Evacuations Tulare County has two levels of evacuations — voluntary and mandatory. Alonzo said a voluntary evacuation means residents should either evacuate or be prepared to do so should conditions worsen. She said all residents evacuating are advised to use eastbound Highway 190 to Mountain Road 107 (Western Divide Highway).
Alonzo said communities under a mandatory evacuation include Pierpoint Springs, Wishon, Doyle Springs, Alpine, Sequoia Crest, Cedar Slope, Mountain Aire (Rogers Camp), and Camp Nelson. She added that Ponderosa remains under a voluntary evacuation.
Evacuation Center The only evacuation center for evacuees remains in the Student Conference Center at Porterville College, 100 E. College Ave. For more information regarding the evacuation center, Alonzo said to call 1-800 Red Cross. For the latest Pier Fire evacuation information, Alonzo said to call 623-0200.
Area Closures Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest (Cal Fire) and Balch Park (Tulare County) are closed until the fire is brought under control, Alonzo said.
Road Closures East of Springville, Highway 190 is closed to eastbound traffic at Balch Park Road. She said Mountain Road 107 (Western Divide Highway) is closed to westbound traffic Fox Road in Ponderosa.
Air Quality According to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD), smoke from the Pier Fire, the Railroad and South Fork Fire burning in both Madera and Mariposa Counties, the Empire Fire burning in Mariposa County, and all other surrounding wildfires have the potential to affect air quality throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley, prompting Air District officials to issue a health cautionary statement Valley-wide.
SJVAPCD stated that overnight winds Thursday may cause smoke to heavily impact the Air Basin, with the potential to increase both PM2.5 and ozone concentrations. The strong high-pressure system parked over the Valley, SJVAPCD stated, will trap pollution and cause air quality to deteriorate. Air officials are expecting these conditions to continue until early next week. SJVAPCD stated that the public should exercise caution until the fires are extinguished.
Under these weather conditions, SJVAPCD said there is potential for new fires to occur across the Valley this weekend. It said smoke from wildfires produces particulate matter (PM2.5), which can cause serious health problems, including lung disease, asthma attacks and increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.
SJVAPCD stated that people with existing respiratory conditions, young children and elderly people are especially susceptible to health effects from these pollutants. Air District officials urge residents to follow their doctors’ orders when exposed to wildfire emissions and stay indoors if at all possible.
For more information, visit www.valleyair.org or call a District office in Fresno at 230-6000, Modesto at 209-557-6400, or Bakersfield at 661-3925500.