For Immediate Release Wednesday July 24 2024
Long Fire: 9,204 acres | 20% containment
Trout Fire: 22,105 acres | 7% containment
Total Personnel: 1,067
Current Situation: No matter their specific assignment for the day, all firefighters will also be watching for any new fires that may have started from lightning strikes around the Trout Fire and Long Fire yesterday. A dedicated group of resources is available for immediate response if new fires are identified. Yesterday, a lightning-caused fire near Kennedy Meadows was quickly contained by nightfall. Thunderstorms brought up to an inch of rain to the west side of the Trout Fire, with some areas receiving half-inch hail. A remote water dip site has been established in Big Meadow to reduce turnaround time for helicopters conducting water drops. More thunderstorms, though possibly less intense, are predicted this afternoon.
Trout Fire: Tuesday, crews successfully strengthened and held the containment line at Sherman Pass Rd. despite extreme weather conditions. Winds gusted over 30 mph at Bear Peak. More than one hundred lightning strikes were recorded, each one more than 50,000 degrees and easily capable of igniting new fires. Today, the priority will be to use dozers, hotshot crews, and resource advisors to clear old roads and fuel breaks that will serve as a control line from Sherman Pass Rd. south along Mosquito Meadow Rd. to Big Meadow. Additionally, reconnaissance will be conducted between Forest Road 22S77 and Lunch Meadow, where fire behavior has diminished, to insert hotshot crews for fireline construction.
Long Fire: The southwest corner around the South Fork of the Kern River has been challenging to control, but after several days of focused work by hotshot crews, this portion of the fire is now considered contained. As a result of recent severe weather and flash flooding in an older fire footprint, crews have been moved to different areas of the fire. Heavy-equipment operators reopened roads made impassable by a debris flow caused by the combination of bare soils and heavy rain. Today, firefighters will continue constructing handline from the head of the fire near the Pacific Crest Trail southwestward toward Palome Creek. Engine crews will also be working along control lines to extinguish any smoldering fires that could lead to the fire escaping its perimeter.
Weather & Air Quality: Thunderstorms are in the forecast again today, but for a shorter duration and reduced intensity. The most probable areas to see rainfall will be the northern portions of the Trout Fire and Long Fire. Along the southern perimeter of each fire, strong outflow winds are expected. A daily smoke outlook is produced for the areas and communities affected by the 2024 SQF Lightning fires (tinyurl.com/452x2uzr).
Closures & Restrictions: Sequoia National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Trout and Long Fires are temporarily closed under Forest Order No. 0513-24-12. Fire restrictions are also in effect under Forest Order No. 0513-24-10. Both orders, maps, and accompanying appendices can be found on the Forest’s “Forest Orders” web page: tinyurl.com/2en2d36k. The Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office has temporarily closed Long Valley Campground, Chimney Creek Campground, and portions of the Pacific Crest Trail. View the emergency closure order here: tinyurl.com/4mprcb9b. The PCT is closed between Hwy 178 at Walker Pass (mile 653) and the South Fork of the Kern River bridge (mile 717.7).
Evacuations: Tulare County evacuation warnings are in effect for zones TLC-E274-B and TLC-E261-B. Tulare County evacuation advisories are in effect or zones TLC-E297-A, TLC-E250, TLC-E274-A, and TLC-E261-A.
