Large Wildland Fire South of Mammoth Lakes - Crowley Lake Area - "Pack Fire"

[es93546]

A large fire is burning in the Crowley Lake to McGee Creek area. This in spite of rain in the town of Mammoth Lakes and light rain at the Mammoth Airport. Evacuations are in progress in the community of Crowley Lake and the small community of McGee Creek. U.S. 395, both north and south bound is closed from Toms Place (25 miles north of Bishop) to Benton Crossing Road. Inyo NF, Cal Fire, Long Valley FD, Mammoth FD, June Lake FD, and Bridgeport FD on scene. Air Attack and 4 air tankers committed. I'm not able to get much information as evacuation radio traffic and initial attack traffic is heavy.

 

[es93546]

Estimate of acreage now 1,000.

 

[es93546]

Pack Air Attack reporting winds are too high for effective retardant drops.

 

[mmckenna]

Yikes.

 

[es93546]

This fire could do a lot of damage before rain reaches the area. We have moderate rainfall in Mammoth and light rain at the airport, just north of the fire. Winds were 25 steady with gusts to 37 at the airport about half an hour ago. Confirmed report of at least one structure lost.

 

[es93546]

For more information here is a good website:

Watch Duty Website

All tankers released as winds are too high for their use.

 

[es93546]

Benton Crossing Road is closed so going around the north of the fire from Bishop via U.S. 6, State 120 to this road will not work. Caltrans website indicates State 120 open from U.S. 6 to U.S. 395 is still open so that is the only route available to get around this fire.

 

[es93546]

Air Attack has been sent to the Bishop Airport to hold for now. Lack of visibility is preventing effective use of any aircraft.

Fire jumped 4 lanes of U.S. 395 and is burning north from there.

 

[es93546]

Air Attack released, enroute to Fox Field.

I'm hoping the fire has quieted as the radio traffic has definitely done so.

 

[es93546]

A Caltrans traffic cam at the Crowley Lake turnoff shows smoke and flame still visible, but not advancing quickly. U.S. 395 and the Benton Crossing Road still closed. Radio is super quiet.

 

[mmckenna]

A Caltrans traffic cam at the Crowley Lake turnoff shows smoke and flame still visible, but not advancing quickly. U.S. 395 and the Benton Crossing Road still closed. Radio is super quiet.

I looked at the same camera. Looks a lot better than it did a few hours ago. With rain on the way, hopefully it's out quickly.

 

[es93546]

There is some confusion regarding directions in the area of this fire. This is likely caused by people thinking that U.S. 395 in the fires area is aligned north south. This highway, in the area of Tom's Place to the Mammoth Lakes turnoff is actually aligned southeast to northwest. In the area of the fire it is nearly aligned east west. The fire started somewhere south of the small community of McGee Creek which is slightly a northwest direction from the community of Crowley Lake. This explains why the fire moved northbound toward the lake or Lake Crowley. It more or less burned itself out after crossing the highway because the vegetation near the lake becomes marshy.

The fire began to move northeast toward the community of Crowley Lake and that prompted the evacuations

 

[es93546]

I looked at the same camera. Looks a lot better than it did a few hours ago. With rain on the way, hopefully it's out quickly.

Rain was not widespread with some areas getting far less than other areas.

 

[es93546]

New size up of 3,400 acres and 15 structures damaged or destroyed, all in the McGee Creek area. U.S. 395 now open. I had this information earlier, but sorry, it was Law and Order night, so I couldn't get to the computer right away.

 

[es93546]

Acreage of 1,974 listed as official now with 83% containment. We've had a lot of rain, which turned to snow last night. We received about 1-2" of snow in Mammoth. Don't know how much precip was received on the fire. Some of these early storms are not consistent in coverage across a wide area. Not enough hit the fire to call it contained yet. This as off 18 hours ago, or near the end of the Monday day shift. It would seem they could get the remaining contained today. The count on structures lost or damaged is around 40 now.