Windy Fire Destroys 28 Buildings
The following is a press release from the Forest Service on 9-30-21.
FIRE STATS AND INFO
Resources: 2,498 personnel, 68 hand crews, 148 engines, 16 helicopters, 32 dozers, 12 water tenders
Structures Threatened: 2,000 Residences, 100 Commercial Buildings
Structures Destroyed: 14 Residences, 12 Outbuildings, 2 Non-Commercial Buildings
Injuries: 3
EVACUATION ORDER REDUCED: Today at 12 noon, the Evacuation Order for the following areas will be downgraded to an Evacuation Warning: Alpine Village, Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Coy Flat, Pierpoint, Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa, and Sequoia Crest. Residents may return to their homes after showing proof of residence to law enforcement officers. Proper documentation must include the person’s name and address within the impacted area. At this time, only residents are permitted in the area. Mountain Aire and Rogers Camp will remain under Evacuation Order. All other evacuation orders and warnings will remain in effect.
TULARE COUNTY RESIDENT INFORMATION: 14 homes and 12 outbuilding have been reported destroyed. Residents requesting information on the status of their property can call the Tulare County Information Hotline at (559) 802-9790. Affected property owners should complete the September Lighting Fire Information Form online at: https://bit.ly/3ETdZjI. Today, Forest Service staff will be out assessing property damage in the White River and Spear Creek Summer Home Tracts on the Sequoia National Forest.
CURRENT SITUATION: The Windy Fire is 88,068, acres with 35% containment and is a full suppression fire. The fire is burning on the Tule River Indian Reservation and the Sequoia National Forest, including the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The fire perimeter increased 315 acres in the last 24 hours.
Another quiet night, with minimal activity or growth in the fire’s perimeter. The top priority continues to be the southwest side where crews have made good progress securing containment lines and providing structure defense around Sugarloaf and Sugarloaf Mountain Park north towards Pine Flat and California Hot Springs.
Crews are constructing and improving indirect (away from the fire’s edge) containment lines from Mt Road 50 (at the switchbacks) northwest to Lone Pine Mountain.
On the northwest side, crews continue to construct direct and indirect (away from the active fire) containment lines from Wheatons south to Corral Hill. If conditions permit, a tactical firing operation will be initiated to help improve containment lines.
On the north side, firefighters continue tactical patrols (extinguishing any burning vegetation, stumps, etc.) along the Coy Flat Road (FS Road 21S94) northeast to Coy Flat.
On the northeast side near Ponderosa, crews continue holding and improving containment lines east to the Lloyd Meadow Road (FS Road 22S28) and south to Johnsondale. Crews will continue tactical patrols extinguishing any burning stumps, trees and vegetation.
On the east and southeast side, Crews continue structure defense along Sugarloaf Road (23S16). In the Kern River Canyon, the fire has not moved much on the upper west slope between Tobias Creek and Flynn Canyon.
Due to the steep, rocky terrain and the difficulty of getting firefighters into the area, Bombardier CL-415s, commonly known as water scoopers, may be used (after the smoke clears) to drop water on the active portions of the fire.
On the south side, the fire has backed into the 2016 Cedar Fire which has slowed the advancing fire front. Small spot fires, burning in pockets of dead and down trees, continue to burn and crews are constructing direct (at the fires edge) and indirect lines (away from the active fire) to contain them.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: High pressure will strengthen over the area bringing warmer temperatures, lower humidity and weak diurnal winds. Expect poor smoke dispersion until this afternoon when the inversion should lift.
EVACUATIONS ORDERS: The following information is from the Tulare County Sherriff’s Office. Evacuation orders and warnings can change suddenly, please refer to https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ for the Windy Fire Evacuation Warning Area Map. For more information, please call 2-1-1.
- The communities of Sugarloaf, Sugarloaf Mountain Park, Sugarloaf Saw Mill, White River, Idlewild, Posey, Panorama Heights, Poso, Balance Rock, Spear Creek, from the existing Hot Springs Evacuation Order west to King George Peak, south to County M56, including Oak Flat, Twin Peak, to Vincent Ranch at the Tulare-Kern Counties Border, east to Portuguese Peak, and back north to Dunlap Meadow.
- California Hot Springs and Pine Flat areas. The evacuation order includes M-504 at Tyler Creek, Southeast to Pine Flat, West to M-56 and Fire Control Road, North up Tyler Creek Road. This includes structures, side roads, and attached roads.
- Mountain Aire and Rogers Camp.
- Johnsondale and Camp Whitsett, including M107 at Dome Rock, east to Lloyd Meadow Road (FS Road 22S82), south to M99 at Sherman Pass Road, west to M107 and M50.
- The area of McNally’s from Sherman Pass Road to Corral Creek.
EVACUATION WARNING:
Both sides of the Kern River from the Gold Ledge Campground south to Riverkern, Tulare County, at the Tulare/Kern border. This warning will include all private properties, businesses, residences, structures, campsites, campgrounds, Forest Service roads, access roads, attached roads, and trails.
ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
- At Jack Ranch Road and Old Stage Road
- Quaking Aspen and M107
- MT99 at Gold Ledge Campground
- MT56 at Fountain Springs
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION ALERTS: Tulare County residents can sign up to receive county emergency notifications by registering at AlertTC.com.
EVACUATION CENTER: A evacuation center is in place at Porterville College on 100 E. College Ave. Older individuals (60+) who need assistance with evacuation may call the senior hotline at 1-800-321-2462. For more information, visit https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ or call 2-1-1.
WINDY FIRE ANIMAL EVACUATION CENTER: Domestic animals and poultry are being accepted at the Tulare County Animal Service Shelter, 14131 Avenue 256, Visalia, CA 93292. Large animals and livestock can be taken to the International Agri-Center, 4500 S Laspina St, Tulare, CA 93274.
DAILY SMOKE OUTLOOK: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/SouthernSierra-Sequoia
AirNow: Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURES: Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia for more information and a map of the closed areas.
HUNTING IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST: Hunting is possible outside of Forest Closure areas. Please refer to the link above for areas closed to public access at this time.
