High Sierra Topix

Current Situation: California Interagency Incident Management Team 14 assumed command of the 2024 SQF Lightning Incident on July 15, 2024, which includes the Acorn, Packsaddle, and Trout Fires, all burning within the Sequoia National Forest. Full suppression efforts are being implemented for each of these fires. With continued extended hot and dry conditions experienced in much of the western United States, critical resources are drawn down due to multiple large incidents. As resources on the incident complete suppression efforts on the smaller two fires, Acorn and Packsaddle, crews will be redirected to the Trout Fire.

Acorn Fire: Firefighters have worked tirelessly to construct control lines around the entire fire perimeter of the Acorn Fire. Located south of Breckenridge Road near the Breckenridge Campground within Kern County, this fire is being held at approximately 7 acres. Yesterday, crews utilized hoselines and water to mop up and extinguish remaining hot spots. Crews will continue to strengthen and hold these containment lines with the goal of placing the fire into patrol status and redirecting resources to the Trout Fire.

Packsaddle Fire: The Packsaddle Fire remained smoldering and creeping on Monday allowing firefighters to complete control lines around the perimeter as well as around multiple spot fires from the previous day. The fire’s growth had been slowed using aerial retardant that allowed crews to use direct attack methods. The fire remains at approximately 50 acres and is located 4 miles east of the Fairview Campground within Tulare County. Today, crews will ensure that containment lines are holding with no threat of escape and redirect resources to the Trout Fire.

Trout Fire: The Trout Fire is the most active of the three fires and burning in an area of no recent fire history. The fire is approximately 2,095 acres and burning in the Trout Creek and Machine Creek drainages. The topography within the Dome Land Wilderness in Tulare County is steep, rugged, and mountainous. Aircraft continue to support the incident through retardant drops to hold the fire from spreading in key locations. Firefighters and resources are being positioned to stop the fire’s northern and eastern spread.

Weather: A slow downward trend in temperatures and probability of thunderstorms remain forecasted for this week while higher temperatures are expected for the weekend. Fuels remain critically dry, which allows for rapid and intense burning conditions.

Evacuations: There are currently no evacuations in effect for this incident. Please be aware of your surroundings and continue to monitor fire conditions.

Fire Closures: Forest Order No. 0513-24-11 has been issued to provide for public safety due to the Trout Fire.
Fire restrictions are also in effect on the Sequoia National Forest. See Forest Order No. 0513-24-10 for details (tinyurl.com/4pdjthvu).

Acorn Fire: 5 acres - 80% containment

Packsaddle Fire: 47 acres - 50% containment

Long Fire: 888 acres - 0% containment

Trout Fire: 6,643 acres - 0% containment

Total Personnel: 251

Current Situation: Hot and dry conditions paired with afternoon winds fueled intense fire behavior and growth on both the Trout and Long Fires on Tuesday. Fuels in the area are critically dry and extremely receptive to burning. Smoke from the 2024 SQF Lightning Incident continues to impact the surrounding communities. Firefighters have made great progress on securing the Acorn and Packsaddle Fires and as these fires are moved into a patrol status, all crews and resources are being directed to the Trout and Long Fires.

Acorn Fire: After working over the past several days to ensure that control lines are mopped up and secure, the Acorn Fire has been placed in a patrol status. This means that a majority of the fire is considered contained and that a local crew will monitor the fire perimeter today to ensure that there is no threat of flare up or escape.

Packsaddle Fire: Activity on the Packsaddle Fire remained minimal on Tuesday with assigned crews actively mopping up hot spots and continuing to strengthen containment lines. The fire is 50% contained and firefighters will work through the day to hold and improve containment lines with the goal of significantly increasing containment by the end of shift.

Trout Fire: The Trout Fire remains active around its entire perimeter and showed significant fire growth yesterday. The fire moved east into Woodpecker Meadow and toward Smith Meadow. Firefighters started constructing control lines Tuesday along the Boone Meadow Road and will continue these efforts today with the priority of anchoring the fire’s western side. Crews have also been scouting and working on the northeast corner of the fire near the Bald Mountain lookout with the intention of holding the fire’s northern flank. Firefighters and crews will also be conducting fuels reduction and preparation work along the Sherman Pass Road throughout the shift in advance of the fire’s potential northern spread.

Long Fire: The Long Fire was added to the 2024 SQF Lightning Incident on July 16, 2024. It is currently burning in the Domeland Wilderness south of the Long Valley Campground and near Palome Creek and South Fork of the Kern River. On Tuesday, when elevated temperatures and increased winds arrived in the afternoon, the fire overcame the eastern retardant lines, spotted, and spread significantly to the east towards the Chimney Peak Wilderness. Several hotshot crews as well as aircraft will be working together to anchor the fire’s western edge, construct control lines along the flanks, and try to stop the fire’s forward progress to the east.

Weather: Warm and dry conditions are forecasted across the fire areas today. Increased southwest winds in the early afternoon will help lift the smoke inversion, but also improve conditions for fire activity. The warming and drying trend with critically low relative humidity is forecasted to continue into this weekend.

Forest Closures & Restrictions: Lands, roads, trails and recreation sites around the Trout, Long, and Packsaddle Fires are temporarily closed under Forest Order No. 0513-24-11. Fire restrictions are also in effect under Forest Order No. 0513-24-10. Both orders, along with accompanying appendices and maps, can be found on the Sequoia National Forest’s Forest Orders web page: tinyurl.com/2en2d36k.

Acorn Fire: 5 acres - 95% containment

Packsaddle Fire: 47 acres - 95% containment

Long Fire: 4,069 acres - 0% containment

Trout Fire: 8,721 acres - 0% containment

Total Personnel: 390

Current Situation: The Bureau of Land Management is now a cooperating agency with lands under their jurisdiction directly impacted. Another management change is the addition of a second fire camp located at Troy Meadow. This change will accommodate the increased resources fighting the Trout Fire and decrease daily travel times. The Long Fire resources will continue to utilize Camp 9 in the Kern River Valley. Firefighters have made great progress on securing the Acorn and Packsaddle Fires and each will remain in patrol status until full containment has been reached. Much of the resources from these fires are being redirected to the Trout Fire and Long Fire.

Acorn Fire and Packsaddle Fire: The Acorn Fire and Packsaddle Fire remain in a patrol status after days of mopping up and securing control lines. Crews will monitor the fire perimeter ensuring there is no threat of flare-up or escape.

Trout Fire: Fire behavior was low to moderate Wednesday and allowed for more direct line construction on the western side, along Boone Meadow Road. This resulted in reduced perimeter growth compared to previous days. Prevailing westerly winds and topography continue the trend of pushing the fire east. As direct line construction continues south along the western side, crews will look for opportunities to build control lines on the southern perimeter near Machine Creek. Crews continue to reinforce Sherman Pass Road, while also looking for opportunities of engagement closer to the fire’s edge. Aircraft are assisting in directing the fire towards the wilderness area where natural barriers can be utilized.

Long Fire: The Long Fire, burning in the Domeland Wilderness south of the Trout Fire, remains a high priority. Elevated temperatures and increased winds have pushed the fire east into the Chimney Peak Wilderness. Multiple hotshot crews have been shuttled via helicopter to the fire area. They are working to anchor the fire and build control lines.

Weather: Thursday will benefit from cloud and smoke shading over the fires due to an inversion layer over the area. This will cause temperatures to remain lower and relative humidity to rise. While the early part of the day will see weather that improves firefighters’ ability to fight fire, the afternoon is expected to make conditions more challenging once the inversion lifts. Thunderstorms are forecasted to flow through the area of the fires, bringing with it gusty and erratic winds. The warming and drying trend with critically low relative humidity is forecasted to return for the weekend.

Forest Closures & Restrictions: Lands, roads, trails and recreation sites around the Trout, Long, and Packsaddle 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, along with accompanying appendices and maps, can be found on the Sequoia National Forest’s Forest Orders web page: tinyurl.com/2en2d36k.

Acorn Fire: 5 acres - 95% containment

Packsaddle Fire: 47 acres - 95% containment

Long Fire: 8,661 acres - 0% containment

Trout Fire: 10,489 acres - 0% containment

Total Personnel: 611

Current Situation: Thursday, the full suppression efforts continued both on the Trout Fire and Long Fire. Each fire presents its own hazards to the firefighters working in harsh terrain. To ensure fire crews’ safety, four medical teams are deployed to the fireline and a hoist rescue capable aircraft is on standby. Tulare County Sheriff announced an evacuation warning for the area north of the Long Fire and south of Kennedy Meadows. Today, members of fire management will conduct a fire information meeting in the community of Kennedy Meadows.

Acorn Fire and Packsaddle Fire: The Acorn Fire and Packsaddle Fire remain in a patrol status. Crews will monitor the fire perimeter ensuring there is no threat of flare-up or escape.

Trout Fire: Thunderstorms brought strong outflow winds and lightning to the Trout Fire but little rain on Thursday. Decisive action by fire crews enabled them to identify a fire started by lightning outside the fire perimeter and quickly contain the new start. Today, the work of building control lines on the southern perimeter near Machine Creek continues. Crews will also focus on strengthening Sherman Pass Road as a control line. They are reestablishing control lines used during the Manter Fire near Kennedy Meadows as a contingency line.

Long Fire: The Long Fire continued burning in light flashy vegetation and experienced rapid rates of fire spread on Thursday. The area continued to experience hot and dry weather unlike the Trout Fire to the north. Today, firefighters will be working to build containment line along the southeast portion on both sides of the South Kern River. Aircraft will drop retardant to slow the fire’s spread to the north while helicopters support the firefighters along the southern portion of fire perimeter with water drops.

Weather & Air Quality: Neither the Trout Fire nor Long Fire are expected to see thunderstorms today. Localized winds will remain in the forecast. On the Long Fire, winds are predicted to align with terrain in the afternoon with gusts up to 20 miles per hour possible. The warming, drying trend, along with critically low relative humidity levels, is forecasted to continue through the weekend. A daily smoke outlook is produced for the areas and communities affected by the 2024 SQF Lightning fires (tinyurl.com/452x2uzr).

Forest Closures & Restrictions: Sequoia National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Trout, Long, and Packsaddle 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.

Evacuations: Tulare County evacuation warnings have been issued for zones TLC-E274-B and TLC-E261-B, the area north of Canebrake Road, south of Sacatar Trail, west of Inyo County line, east of the South Fork and Kern Rivers.

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2024 SQF Lightning Incident – fire information
California Interagency Incident Management Team 14

Phone (public inquiries, 8 am to 8 pm): 559-481-7849
Phone (media inquiries, 8 am to 8 pm): 559-492-9967
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