Incident Update 2024 SQF Lightning Complex
- Date:
- 07/26/2024
- Time:
- 8:31 AM
Incident Facts
- Name
- 2024 SQF Lightning Complex
- Start Date/Time
- 2024-07-13
- Incident Status
- Active
- Location
- East of Johnsdale
- Type
- Wildfire
- Cause
- Under Investigation
- Counties
- Tulare
- Administration Unit
- Sequoia National Forest
- Unified Command Agency(s)
- Size
- 32,376
- Containment
- 5%
- Structures Threatened
- Structures Destroyed
- Structures Damaged
- Civilian Injuries
- Firefighter Injuries
- Civilian Fatalities
- Firefighter Fatalities
Current Situation
Situation Summary
#troutfire: 22,231 acres 10% contained
#longfire: 9,204 acres 25% contained
#BorelFire: 941 Acres | 0% contained
Total Personnel: 1,095
Yesterday around 1 p.m., firefighters responded to a vegetation fire—Borel Fire—burning on both sides of State Route (SR) 178, east of Democrat Springs. Despite an aggressive initial attack with numerous interagency resources—crews, engines, aircraft, dozers—the fire spread quickly up steep canyon walls in hot, dry, windy conditions. California Interagency Incident Management Team 14 is managing the fire as part of the 2024 SQF Lightning incident. Kern County Fire Department issued an evacuation warning for zone KRN-403-A. SR 178 is closed from 4.1 miles east of the junction of SR 184 to Democrat Springs (Kern Co).
Trout Fire: Fire growth was minimal Wednesday despite gusty winds and minimal precipitation from afternoon thunderstorms. On the fire’s east side, crews extended and strengthened the containment fireline from Bald Mountain Lookout near Sherman Pass Road to Lunch Meadow. Today, crews will be flown in by helicopter to work and camp for several days on the southern and southeastern perimeter. On the west side, heavy-equipment operators are constructing containment line southward from Sherman Pass Vista toward Big Meadow.
Long Fire: Crews continue to make progress containing the fire on the northwest side from Palome Creek as they advance northeastward to the head of the fire where other firefighters are constructing handline from the head of the fire near the Pacific Crest Trail southwestward toward Palome Creek. Engine crews are also working along control lines to extinguish any smoldering fires that could lead to the fire escaping its perimeter.
Borel Fire: Numerous resources are working to fully contain the fire. Fire behavior Thursday is expected to be extreme with rapid rates of spread. SR 178 remains closed in the fire area.
Weather & Air Quality: Near all three fires, drier and slightly cooler conditions are expected today with wind gusts up to 30 mph possible. A daily smoke outlook is produced for the areas and communities affected by the 2024 SQF Lightning fires (tinyurl.com/452x2uzr).
Closures & Restrictions: State Route 178 is closed from 4.1 mi east of the junction of SR 184 to Democrat Springs (quickmap.dot.ca.gov/). 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).