Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Fire in Lone Pine??

I am getting this second hand, but a friend driving through Lone Pine told someone else in my hiking party that he saw fire in Lone Pine. The time lapse video looks like maybe some smoke gets in the way of the camera beginning in the early afternoon. I don't see any news reports indicating a fire in Lone Pine. Has anyone else heard or preferably seen anything that would let you confirm or deny this report? If there is a fire, was it structural or wild fire? We are hitting the trail on Tuesday the 19th, so any intel would be greatly appreciated. If my question is based on false information or exagerations, my apologies in advance.

Brent N.

I'm not aware of a fire in the Lone Pine area. I believe the smoke visible in the Owens Valley is from a large fire in the Little Kern River basin. Prevailing winds blow smoke from that fire into the Whitney region most afternoons. You can see the smoke plume in weather satellite photos. This has been going on for weeks, and will likely continue until the heavy rains or snow extinguish the fire.

Marmoting, thank you for sharing that. That is probably what our second hand source saw. (Would that make this second hand smoke?) I called someone in Lone Pine this morning and they confirmed that there is no fire.

Relieved,

Brent N