SQF Complex transitioning to Type I Management Team

The perimeter of the Castle Fire remains active, now encompassing 42,200 acres. Two Hotshot Crews have been deployed to Division X on the southeast side of the fire. They are working to contain fire spread east of the Kern River. A full suppression strategy is continuing, using hand crews and bulldozers to extend the containment lines, with assistance from aircraft. Fire engines from multiple agencies, including Tulare County Fire Department, are being employed to assist with structure protection. The fire has burned approximately 37,200 acres on the Sequoia National Forest and approximately 5,000 acres on the Inyo National Forest near Soda Flats, toward Chinquapin Basin, and along Kern Ridge.

The Shotgun Fire, located where Pistol Creek and Shotgun Creek converge in the Golden Trout Wilderness, has now burned 374 acres. The fire is slowly progressing through the drainage amidst rough rocky terrain; air resources continues to monitor growth and behavior.

The SQF Complex, encompassing the Castle and Shotgun fires, has burned 42,574 acres and is 1 percent contained with dozer line on the southwest side of the Castle Fire in the vicinity of Lloyd Meadows. Due to continued fire growth and the increase in management complexity, the management of the fire will transition from the (Type 2) California Fire Incident Management Team 12 to the (Type 1) Northern Rockies Incident Management Team on Thursday, September 3 at 6 a.m.. Currently, 598 personnel are assigned; with the transition, additional resources are expected to arrive.

The Evacuation Order placed August 28 by Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is still active for the following communities: Cedar Slope, Ponderosa, and Pyles Boys Camp.

The Evacuation Advisory is still in place for the following communities: Camp Nelson, Rodgers Camp, Coy Flat and Mountain Aire.

The evacuation order and advisory evacuation affect 242 structures. The Red Cross set up a temporary evacuation point at Porterville College Stadium Gate 2. Roads are closed at Johnsondale Bridge and Sherman Pass, Highway 190, and the County Transfer Station, as well as M107 and Mountain Road 50.

The Sequoia National Forest has issued Order No. 0513-20-31 SQF Complex Fire Area Road and Trails Closure. The Inyo National Forest has issued Order No. 05-04-5120-16 Inyo National Forest Castle Fire Trail and Area Closure, for the protection of the public and firefighters suppressing the fire. These closures are being enforced.

Priorities at this time include: Ponderosa, Cedar Slope, Forks of the Kern Trailhead; Jerkey Meadows Trailhead; Facilities and Trails within Trout Meadow; structures and facilities along the Lloyd Meadows Road; Pyles Boys Camp; grazing cattle west of north road; the Freeman Creek Grove and other Sequoia tree Groves; the President George H.W. Bush Tree; Camp Whitsett, featuring numerous Native American archeological values; Peppermint Fire Station; the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog and Little Kern Golden Trout

Critical Habitats; Pacific Fisher habitats.

A high pressure weather system continues to strengthen over the area, creating persistent hot and dry conditions, with high temperatures expected to reach into the 90’s below 5,000 feet in elevation. With the stable weather conditions, smoke is expected to remain in the valley throughout the day, decreasing visibility and slightly increasing relative humidity below the inversion layer. Relative humidity remains extremely low, enhancing the potential for increasing fire activity.

Light drainage winds are expected early in the day, shifting to south/southeast later in the morning at four to nine miles per hour with gusts to 15 mph. Winds will continue to be heavily impacted by local terrain.

Stable air conditions will keep smoke in the valleys for the next several days. Kern River Valley remains adversely impacted by Unhealthy to Hazardous air quality. Most areas are expected to improve to Moderate during at least a few hours each day. Stay inside during the worst air quality and try to plan outside time for late afternoon until midnight when the air is normally cleaner. Also attaching a filter to a box fan is a lowcost portable solution.

Fire managers will employ tactics that safely engage fire while prioritizing firefighter and public safety and protecting values at risk. Life safety will always remain the number one priority. COVID-19 mitigations are being taken to limit exposure risks to firefighters and the public, per CDC guidelines.

For more information visit https:// inciweb. nwcg. gov/ incident/7048/, follow Sequoia National Forest on Facebook and Twitter, email SQFComplex2020@ gmail. com, follow the Tulare County Fire Department on Facebook, of call the Fire Info Line from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at (559) 697-5148.