Pier Fire grows to 24,949 acres
Community meeting set for today at PC
Firefighters made good progress Thursday night with the Pier Fire, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
Although the fire grew to 24,949 acres, a 1,220 acre increase from Thursday afternoon, firefighters were able to increase containment to 35 percent as of 9:30 a.m. Friday.
A community meeting for people impacted by the Pier Fire is being held at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Porterville College Student Center, 100 E. College Ave.
As of Friday, there were a total of 1,767 personnel as well as 36 crews, eight helicopters, 135 engines, 22 dozers and 14 water tenders working to put out the fire.
Fire lines continue to hold on the western and
northern areas of the Pier Fire in the areas of Rio Vista and Sequoia Crest, said Denise Alonzo, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service.
On the eastern edge of the fire, Alonzo said crews were able to take advantage of favorable weather conditions and conduct a firing operation and improve fire line along Redwood Drive south to Highway 190. A firing operation was also conducted between the communities of Mountain Aire to Rogers Camp off of Forest Road 21S94.
On Friday, Alonzo said crews monitored and improved existing containment lines. She said firing operations continued to take place from Rogers Camp down to Coy Flat.
On the southern edge, Alonzo said firefighters prepared and improved line for future firing operations on the Tule River Indian Reservation.
Weather and Fire Behavior Alonzo said low pressure developed off the Northern California coast on Friday and noted that it will drift south down the coast over the next couple days. Winds are expected to turn from southwest to a southeast direction over the weekend bringing monsoonal moisture into the fire area for a return threat of thunderstorms.
Friday’s maximum temperatures were between 82 to 91 degrees. The minimum humidity was between 25 to 40 percent. Winds were generally upslope/upcanyon 3-6 mph gusting to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Evacuations
As of 10 a.m. Friday, officials lifted the voluntary evacuation order for residents in the Upper Rio Vista area, said Stuart Anderson, the public information officer for the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. However, Anderson noted that Cow Mountain Road still remains closed to the public at Rio Vista.
Communities under a mandatory evacuation include Sequoia Crest, Mountain Aire, Rogers Camp, Pierpoint Springs, Cedar Slope, Camp Nelson, Doyle Springs, Alpine Village and Wishon.
For further information in regards to Pier Fire evacuation orders and road closures, Anderson said to call the Tulare County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 636-5496.
Evacuation Center The Student Center at Porterville College, 100 E. College Ave., continues to be the only evacuation center for the Pier Fire. For more information on the evacuation center, call (661) 324-6427 during weekdays or 1-800-7332767.
Area Closures Alonzo said Sequoia National Forest trails, roads and lands around the Pier Fire are closed. She said Cal Fire has closed Mountain Home State Forest and that Tulare County has closed Balch Park. She said all areas will be closed until the fire is brought under control.
Suppression repair work, Alonzo said, will take additional time after the fire is contained.
Hard Road Closures
Cow Mountain Road at its intersection with Rio Vista Road is now closed to all traffic. Highway 190 east of Spring ville is closed at upper Rio Vista Road to eastbound traffic and that Highway 190 north of Ponderosa is closed at Forest Road 21S50 to westbound traffic.