Sequoia (#SQF) Complex: The complex includes the Castle and Shotgun fires update

The Porterville Fire department reported Saturday that OES 411 with 4 firefighters was requested as part of Strike Team 5810A the Castle Fire in Sequoia National Forest.

Castle Fire: Containment moved from 1% to 7% as firefighters mopped up along the southwest perimeter of the fire in the vicinity of Lloyd Flat. Yesterday afternoon, a large smoke column rose from the western side of the fire as it aggressively pushed to the west along Clicks Creek. Crews were able to burn off control lines and kept the fire from crossing those lines. Aircraft applied retardant in that area keeping the fire in check while supporting ground crews. Today, additional resources will be moved to the western side of the fire to assist in attacking the fire. The western edge of the fire is approximately 4-5 miles east of Sequoia Crest.

Crews continue to mop-up along the southwestern perimeter of the fire. Crews are constructing direct fireline and using old firelines on the northeast side of the fire in the Inyo National Forest to implement point protection to protect critical values at risk. Firefighters are building direct fireline where possible and using heavy equipment and chippers to build contingency lines on the southeastern side of the fire where the fire continues to move towards Little Horse and Osa Meadows. Structure assessment and protection continues for communities impacted by the fire, including Soda Flat, Jordan Hot Springs, and Casa Vieja Meadow, Cedar Slope, Ponderosa, Camp Nelson and Monache Meadows.

Acreage remains the same today, due to no infrared flight last night. The Castle Fire is mapped at 55,523 acres, including 11,022 acres within the Inyo National Forest boundary, and the remainder on the Sequoia National Forest.

Shotgun Fire: Estimated at 438 acres, the fire is slowly burning in a rocky drainage and is monitored by aircraft.

Weather: Sunday’s temperatures will be in the upper 80s at the higher elevations to 105 on the valley floor. Minimum relative humidity will be in the teens or single digits. Sunday’s winds will be from the south or southeast in the morning, from the west or southwest around noon and from the northwest in late afternoon.

Smoke: Air quality will be impaired throughout the Outlook area today. Unhealthy or worse levels are present this morning in Owens Valley, the Kern River drainage, and Sequoia National Park. Shifting winds will also bring smoke from the SQF Complex and the Creek Fire to the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra foothills.

Evacuations and Closures:

• Tulare County Sheriff issued an Evacuation Order on 9/4/20 for Alpine Village, Sequoia Crest and Redwood Drive. The Evacuation Order (8/28/20) is still in effect for: Ponderosa, Cedar Slope, Pyles Camp, and points between.

• The Evacuation Warning is still in place for: Camp Nelson, Rodgers Camp, Coy Flat, Mountain Aire and Pier Point.

• The Red Cross temporary evacuation center is located at Porterville College Stadium Gate 2.

• Tulare County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications at alerttc. com

• Roads are closed at Johnson dale Bridge and Sherman Pass, Hwy 190, and the County Transfer Station, as well as M107 and Mountain Road 50.

• Campgrounds closed: Belknap, Coy Flat, Dome Rock, Lower Peppermint, Upper Peppermint, & Quaking Aspen

• Sequoia National Forest issued Order No. 0513-20-31 SQF Complex Fire Area Road and Trails Closure on 8/26/2020.

• Inyo National Forest issued Order No. 05-0421-20-17 Inyo National Forest Castle Fire Trail, Road, and Area Closure on 9/3/20 which expands the closure area of the Golden Trout Wilderness and Monache Meadows. The original closure areas continue as specified in Order No. 05-04-51-2016. These closures are for firefighter and public safety.

• A Temporary Flight Restriction has been issued for the airspace around the fire complex. Drones are also prohibited.

Priorities include: Ponderosa, Cedar Slope, Alpine Village, Sequoia Crest, Redwood Drive, facilities within Trout Meadow, structures along the Lloyd Meadows Road, Pyles Boys Camp, grazing cattle west of North Road, Freeman Creek Grove and other Sequoia groves, the President George H.W. Bush Tree, Camp Whitsett, archeological values, Peppermint Fire Station, Mountain Yellow-legged Frog and Little Kern Golden Trout