2024 SQF Lightning Complex

Total acres burned: 63,587

• Trout Fire: 22,433 acres - 25% containment
• Long Fire: 9,204 acres - 35% containment
• Borel Fire: 31,950 acres - 0% containment

Total Personnel: 1,117

Current Situation: Over the last week tremendous progress has been made on the Trout Fire and Long Fire. Containment continues to increase, and the work of building control lines remains a priority. The appropriate resources remain assigned to each fire to ensure containment continues to increase. On the Borel Fire today, a wave of resources is being sent into communities to provide structure protection. Additionally, firefighters will continue with their assignment to create a control line from Hwy 178 along the fire’s southern edge toward Breckenridge Meadows and Havilah. Evacuation warnings and orders have been issued for multiple zones (see below).

Everyone in areas of active fires should “Know Your Zone.” Go to genasys Protect (tinyurl.com/jcdv55f9) to identify the zone you reside in.

• Trout Fire: Fire growth was minimal Thursday despite warm, dry, windy conditions, allowing crews to make significant progress suppressing hotspots directly on the fire’s edge. On the western perimeter, dozer operators have nearly completed fireline construction to Big Meadow. On the southern perimeter, crews camping in the Domeland Wilderness are extinguishing lingering areas of heat and constructing handlines from Sirretta Pass toward Smith Meadow. 
  
• Long Fire: Fire activity remains moderate, primarily creeping and smoldering. Some unburned pockets of vegetation on the fire’s interior may continue to produce smoke. However, crews report there are no areas of heat posing a threat to their existing containment lines. Firefighters are constructing handlines from the head of the fire near the Pacific Crest Trail, moving southwest toward Palome Creek. 
  
• Borel Fire: Wednesday afternoon, the Borel Fire started burning along State Route 178 near Democrat Springs. Yesterday, under red flag weather conditions the fire exhibited extreme fire behavior and grew to more than 3,000 acres. Since its start, firefighters have successfully kept the fire south of SR 178. The Democrat Fire Station was threatened yesterday, but crews made a stand and defended it. Today, operations will focus on protecting Breckenridge Meadows, Piute Meadows Ranches, and Havilah, while maintaining the strong control line of SR 178. A vast army of resources will be attacking the fire from the air and ground, including resources from the Kern County Fire Department to benefit from their local knowledge of the areas affected.

Weather & Air Quality: The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning through Saturday, July 27 at 11 p.m. for low relative humidity and elevated winds. Fire behavior on new and existing fires could be extreme. Hot, dry conditions are expected today with wind gusts up to 35 mph possible. Westerly winds will remain elevated on ridgetops throughout Friday night. A daily smoke outlook is produced for the areas and communities affected by the 2024 SQF Lightning fires: tinyurl.com/452x2uzr. 

Sequoia National Forest & BLM 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).