Containment has increased to 47%
Firefighters had another productive day on the Sequoia Complex East Zone Saturday. Containment of the complex has increased to 47%. Changing weather was be a factor in the fight Sunday. An east wind brought lower relative humidity and temperatures are forecast to be five to seven degrees above normal. This will test containment lines that have been constructed over the last several days. Previously, most of the fire movement occurred as winds carried embers outside the lines causing spot fires.
Sunday, fire crews focused on constructing and improving fireline between Coy Flat and the Kern River drainage. East winds have the highest impact on this portion of the East Zone perimeter. Several Hotshot crews and CONAFOR hand crews from Mexico have been working this area. There are still many hazard trees along the line and crews will be working to fall any tree that poses a threat to containment. Firefighters also continue the work to protect structures in Ponderosa, Cedar Slope, Alpine Village, Jordan Peak, Sequoia Crest and several communities within the fire area.
On the north side of the fire, in the area of Pecks Cabin, firefighters are scouting the area to develop a plan to address the uncontained fireline. As work is completed in higher priority areas of the fire, crews will shift up to address this uncontained line.
The process of backhaul, breaking down and removing equipment and supplies no longer needed in the fire area, has been initiated on the east portion of the fire and around several communities. Weather: A warming and drying trend will impact the area for the next several days. Temperatures will be five to seven degrees above normal and relative humidity will dip into the low teens and
potentially, single digits. Evacuations: • Evacuation Orders, Map and Warnings for Tulare County.
• Areas Downgraded to an Evacuation Warning:
• All of South Fork Drive below Cinnamon Canyon Road
• Including Cinnamon Canyon Road
• All remaining Evacuation Orders and Evacuation Warnings remain in place
• Tulare County has a structure assessment form for evacuees affected by the fire to provide contact information for County officials as the damage assessment continues.
• An interactive map showing damaged structures is available.
• Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency hotline for affected citizens – (559) 802-9790
• The Red Cross has evacuation centers at Porterville Community College and the North Exeter Community Building. Also, call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or https:// tinyurl. com/ yafetgkj Closures: • Sequoia and Inyo National Forests closure is extended: Regional Order No. 20-17
• Regional Emergency Fire Restrictions are in place: Regional Order No. 20-16 • The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Office has issued a temporary emergency closure. • Road closures The following are the road closure points into these areas.
• Highway 190 at Rio Vista Drive
• Balch Park & Blue Ridge Road
• Bear Creek Road at SCICON • Mountain 50 & 107 • Mountain 99 & Sherman Pass
• Sherman Pass & Cherry
• Sequoia National Park Closures Generals Highway in Sequoia National Park from Ash Mountain Entrance in Three Rivers to the Woodward Gate west
• Highway 190 at Rio Vista
• Highway 198 to the Giant Forest
• South Fork Drive at Conley Bridge
• Mineral King Road at Oak Grove Drive
• Cinnamon Canyon Road & South Fork Road
Additional closures of the SQF Complex may be found online at http://www.arcgis.com/ home/ webmap/ viewer. html? url= https:// services2. arcgis. com/ byBANHMQGWSSLC0L/ ARCGIS/ rest/ services/ SQF_ Road_ Closures_ Public_ View/ FeatureServer& source=sd
• Drones over the fire area are prohibited.
• Sequoia National Park remains closed due to fire threat, including Generals Highway from Ash Mountain Entrance in Three Rivers to the Woodward Gate west
Smoke: Current air quality may be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Alert: To receive emergency notifications regarding evacuations and critical events sign up at alerttc.com.
Safety Message: This will be a long duration event. Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to continue to prepare for the possibility of fire in their area in advance. Go to https://www.ready.gov/ wildfires to learn how to prepare.
Crews continue to battle 25 major wildfires with gusty winds and low humidity.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 8,100 wildfires that have burned well over 3.7 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 7,000 structures destroyed.
A Red Flag Warning continues through today through much of Northern California, bringing gusty winds and low humidity, creating critical fire weather conditions. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect today across the Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley and San Diego Valley due to gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity. Warm temperatures persist across the state.