Creek Fire live updates: Evacuation plans laid out for Inyo National Forest as fire moves north

As the Creek Fire burned in the Sierra National Forest and threatened to spread north into the Inyo National Forest, authorities prepared local residents for the possibility of an evacuation.

As of Tuesday evening, fire officials revealed during a Zoom meeting that the wildfire had burned 220,025 acres and was at 18% containment.

“You guys are smoked in,” said Inyo National Forest Acting Supervisor John “Pancho” Smith. “It’s ugly. ... But when you back up and look at it, it’s still a long ways away. ... A lot of miles, granite.

“It’s hung up on the rock and we want it to stay there. But if it doesn’t, we are prepared.”

Mono County Sheriff Ingrid Braun advised residents to have a go-bag prepared in case an immediate evacuation is necessary.

But she reiterated that residents are not in immediate danger.

“This is not a time to panic,” Braun said. “We are not under an evacuation order. ... The potential (of the fire spreading) is really small. But it’s there.”

Inyo National Forest will remain closed under a new regional order and hopeful visitors are advised to come back some other time.

For more detail of the emergency fire restrictions, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd804573.pdf

For information on the emergency forest closure, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd804574.pdf

Earlier in the day, the Creek Fire was at 220,025 acres with 16% containment, and destroyed 47 structures and damaged 555 others.

The fire has increased by about 7,000 acres since Monday and has been burning since Sept. 4.

The cause remains under investigation.

4:45 p.m.: More evacuation orders move to warning; others lifted

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reduced more evacuation orders to evacuation warnings on Tuesday. Residents can now return to zones F1B, F1C, F1D, F1E and F1F, F1G, F1H, F1I, F1TA, F3M, F3N and F30.

Areas lifted include: F3E, F3F, F3I, F3J and F3L.

The zones can be identified on the fire map.

4:30 p.m.: Edison Lake resort to be wrapped

The Vermilion Valley Resort is urging prayers on Facebook as the hiker-friendly resort said the United State Forest Service and other crews will be wrapping the buildings in fire retardant at the resort and the nearby High Sierra Pack Station.

The VVR is located in the high Sierra at Edison Lake and is a popular destination for backpackers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

1 p.m.: Fresno and Madera counties reduce evacuation orders

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reduced several evacuation orders to evacuation warnings on Tuesday. Residents can now return to zones F4A, F5D, F13A, F13B and F15.

The zones are clumped on the fire’s southernmost edge, near Watts Valley and Hog Mountain.

Evacuation orders are used when there is potential or actual threat to civilian life within 1 to 2 hours, whereas evacuation warnings are issued when the threat is further out.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office early Tuesday afternoon lifted evacuation warnings for Evacuation Zones M44, Finegold, M45, Veater and Church Ranch and M48 Thornberry Mountain.

The zones can be identified on the fire map.

10:30 a.m.: Madera County restores some postal service

As of Tuesday, normal mail service has been restored to North Fork, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook. Residents of Bass Lake looking to retrieve their mail if their post offices were closed during the Creek Fire can find it at the Ahwahnee USPS office, while residents of O’Neals are redirected to Friant.

Some evacuation orders in Madera County were lifted Monday, including the areas of John West, Upper 426 Road and China Creek, according to CalFire. Madera County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Jackson said the area encompasses Oakhurst east of Highway 41, along 426.

In area M52, the area of Table Mountain crossed by Taylor Mountain to the north and west of Bass Lake, the evacuation order was changed to a warning. Residents should still be prepared to evacuate if anything changes.

9:30 a.m.: Concerns flare up in south zone

The fire is expected to flare up in the south of the fire zone Tuesday after a period of calm weather, as clear air enters, hiking temperatures and fueling the fire with wind. As the weather change progresses, winds in Blue Canyon may push the fire toward Shaver Lake.

Tuesday’s priority will be to hold line in the Jose Basin, according to the 9 a.m. update.

On Monday night, a fire challenged a dozer line near Burrough Mountain. Air tankers around the mountain and Valley are now being used to hold the fire in check due to the potential of a run toward Tollhouse.

Monday also saw an 8-acre flare up around Huntington Lake. Unburned vegetation around local communities and within the burn area may flare up in the days and weeks to come.

In Madera, firefighters are making progress clearing the 81 Road and Mammoth Pools Road within the fire perimeter. Utility companies are also beginning to access the area to restore service. The Madera County Sheriff’s office has escorted ranchers and bee keepers into that area to retrieve cattle and hives.

The fire is expected to progress primarily to the north and northeast towards McCurry Trailhead, Jackass Meadow, Portuguese View Point, Globe Rock and Little Shuteye Peak, as well as Central Camp, South Fork Bluffs and Whiskey Falls, according to the forest service.

In the south zone, communities affected will be Auberry, Shaver Lake and Old Bretz Mill. It will continue to spread towards the Minaret Mountains, according to Tuesday morning’s update.

Scott said the fire crews received reinforcements from Texas on Monday, and were hoping for increased manpower and resources on Tuesday.

Full containment is not expected until mid-October, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

9 a.m.: National forests closures extended

On Tuesday, the USDA Forest Service extended for another week the closure of several national forests, including Inyo, Sierra, Sequoia, Stanislaus, Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland.

Visitors are also prohibited from using the roads in those national forests. The emergency fire order will last through Sept. 21.

The Forest Service also banned smoking and using a fire, campfire or stove fire on National Forest system lands within the Pacific Southwest Region over the time period.

8:30 a.m.: Weather forecast in San Joaquin Valley

The weather forecast remains relatively steady in the San Joaquin Valley, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS is predicting south to southwest winds will take more of the smoke out of the region, clearing the path for more sun and slightly warmer temperatures Tuesday. The weather is expected to cool down again in the coming days.

The forest service also predicts “a slight chance for a shower or thunderstorm” on Thursday in the SQF Complex, bringing some relief to the fire.

The air quality in the central Valley has worsened, however, with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District forecasting air quality levels in Fresno at 280 and in Madera at 290. Both fall into the very unhealthy category.

Air quality is expected to continue to improve over the next few days, according to the national forest service.

This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Creek Fire live updates: Evacuation plans laid out for Inyo National Forest as fire moves north."