Sequoia Complex up to 54 percent containment

The Sequoia Complex consisting of the Castle Fire and the Shotgun Fire that began in the Golden Trout Wilderness are now up to 54 percent contained as of Monday night.

As of Monday night the fire had reached 150,744 acres. Officials reported firefighters had another productive day in battling the fire on Monday.

Officials added on Monday morning no structures were threatened at that time. There have been 173 structures destroyed by the fire of which 59 have been described as minor structures. Another 12 structures have been damaged.

There have been 15 firefighters who have been injured battling the blaze. There have been no deaths and no civilians injured as a result of the fire.

The Sequoia National Forest added “Changing weather will be a factor in the fight today. An east wind will bring lower relative humidity and temperatures forecast to be five to seven degrees above normal.” The high temperature on the Valley floor is expected to be in the 95-degree range through Thursday.

Officials stated the weather tested containment lines but not much movement was seen on Sunday. “The fire showed little activity and movement overnight,” the forest service stated.

Officials added the primary objective has changed from structure protection to perimeter control. “This fire continues to be under a full suppression strategy,” the forest service stated.

On Monday officials stated fire crews would continue to focus on constructing and improving fireline between Coy Flat and the Kern River drainage.

“East winds will have the highest impact on this portion of the East Zone perimeter,” the U.S. Forest Service stated.

Last week, 100 firefighters from Mexico joined in the fight against the Sequoia Complex and officials stated several hotshot crews and CONAFOR hand crews from Mexico have been

working in the East Zone perimeter.

“Crews will continue to work on falling many hazard trees and snags that pose a threat to containment,” the forest service stated.

The forest service added:

“On the north side of the fire, air support and crews were looking for hotspots and extinguishing them as they occurred. Crews were moved from the Kern River Canyon Station to help other areas 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.”

Officials added the process of backhaul, breaking down and removing equipment and removing supplies no longer needed in the fire area has been initiated at Camp Nelson, on the east portion of the fire and several other communities.

The process of backhaul, breaking down and removing equipment and supplies no longer needed in the fire area, has been initiated at Camp Nelson community, on the east portion of the fire and around several communities.

Information on evacuation orders and warnings can be found here: https:// tularecounty. ca. gov/ emergencies/?fbclid=iwar1fpypkv iesuvs7tgfkgkmjxepi c5scabsxqtwieq0s9pwWfymxxx72pac

Areas that have been downgraded from an Evacuation Order to an Evacuation Warning are all of South Fork Drive below Cinnamon Canyon Road and Cinnamon Canyon Road.

All remaining Evacuation Orders and Evacuation Warnings remain in place

An interactive map showing damaged structures is available at https:// tularecounty. maps. arcgis. com/ apps/ webappviewer/ index. ht ml?id=f452093b7c6c439 e8844093804c0c347

Tulare County Health and Human Services has a hotline for affected citizens at (559) 802-9790

The Red Cross has an evacuation center at Porterville College. For more information call the Red Cross at 1-800-REDCROSS or visit https:// tinyurl.com/yafetgkj

Road closures stil include Highway 190 and Rio Vista Drive, Balch Park Road and Blue Ridge Road, Bear Creek

Road at SCICON, Mountain 50 and 107, Mountain 99 and Sherman Pass and Sherman Pass and Cherry.

The Temporary Flight Restriction may be found at https://tfr. faa. gov/ save_ pages/ detail_0_6785.html Drones over the fire area are prohibited.

Current air quality may be found at https:// fire.airnow.gov/.

To receive emergency notifications regarding evacuations and critical events sign up atalerttc. com.

Cooperating and Assisting Organizations include Tulare County Fire Department, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, Tule River Tribe, California Rehabilitation Center Fire Department, California Conservation Corps, California Office of Emergency Services, and Bureau of Land Management.

Fire officials continue to state the fire remains a long duration event and residents in the affected areas are encouraged to continue to prepare for the possibility of fire in their area in advance.

As of Monday morning there were 167 engines, 38 water tenders, 21 helicopters, 46 hand crews, 33 dozers and 2,249 personnel working on the fire.