Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Owens Valley is Burning

Heads up! 395 is closed from Big Pine south. Heard over the shortwave that Independence is being evacted, and Seven Pines (on the road up to Onion Valley was evacted early in the day. Drove up the road towards Glacier Lodge and a Sherrif told me to turn around. They were on the way to evacuate the campgrounds. Looks like it's burning pretty bad on the old moraine, flames licking 30 plus feet. Can't tell if the fire has gotten down into the trees or burning up the North or South Pine Creek canyons.

Then drove up the Whites a ways to look down the Owens and the smoke is bad. Did see some flames all the way up to 8,000 feet. Eavesdropped on another shortwave conversation between fire and bombers. They were talking about the fire crossing 395 in places.

Over ten fires started here over the afternoon, all due to lightning.

damn, that sounds ugly.

A LINK TO FIRE INFORMATION

Several lightning fires went off between Verdi and Susanville on Friday as well, up here in the Reno area. I think Susanville was totally ripped by t-storm and flash flood weather on Friday.

I had to turn back from a Whitney summit in '04 because of frizzled hair weather, stopped at trail camp. Back up there next year in '05 and summited. I have a question, do androids dream of electric sheep?

Thanks for the link this will come in handy when planning any future trips to the area. I will be hiking the high sierra trail to Whitney in September and I am always concerned with conditions

Joe

The CHP web site says 395 is open with no restrictions as of 4:11 this morn.

Only if their batteries haven't run out.

Right now, 395 is closed from Independence to Big Pine. There are mandatory evacuations in West Independence.

For the latest, you can listen to the local radio station in Bishop at http://www.kibskbov.com

just got back from some hiking up near the Portals - saw smoke and flames on the way up and down the road. the previous post is correct - they have again closed the road. winds seem to be picking up again.


picture from the portal road looking north - it looks like downtown Independence is ok but west and north is anyones guess





update: we saw mobilization on the highway - the website confirms: traffic is now being stopped at the Kern-Inyo county line

Oh my gawd, looks like a meteor hit. I hope everyone's OK.

I've just heard it's burning up around Baker Creek, north of Big Pine, but that's just word of mouth, not confirmed.

This thread appears to be a "hot" topic...

My wife and I are planning on spending four days at Glacier Lodge, west of Big Pine, in a couple of weeks. For now, it looks like the trip is on hold.

I want to thank everyone for their up-to-date posts on the fires.

Whitney Mike

"This thread appears to be a "hot" topic..."

Nice one Kurt. Let he who is without pun cast the first groan.

I've put up a couple of updates on the fire burning in Big Pine on www.mountainproject.com.

Another link from a resident of Big Pine...

http://www.death-valley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20698

According to the CHP. 395 is open, but can change at any time...

Are the fires near Lone Pine? Are they affecting hiking on the main Whitney Trail. Our premit is for July 24th so hopefully things will have calmed down by then.

This was posted by the father of an Independence Volunteer firefighter on Bajanomad.com:

I found this report from my son, Phil on my computer this morning:
Subject: RE: LATEST ON OWENS VALLEY FIRES


Hello:



I just got released for tonight. The fires are very bad and very fast and very hot. It is true that the Ashworth property has burned. The hatchery was saved by chemical drops along the west boundary of the hatchery, east boundary of Ashworth’s (two drops) from planes and the work of a lot of fire crews from multi agencies. The fire has not gone further down Oak Creek so far.



It is true that CDF and many others did everything they could. CDF lost a truck in by the main house (it is still there burned) and had to jump into the pond to save themselves. One or two were very badly burned (3rd degree) and flown out. I am told they did get Delores out. All buildings and all trees are burned down at the place. It is very shocking and sad to see what fire can do and how fast it can do it. I have talked to Jim Ashworth and JD on the phone and expect them both here tomorrow or Monday. I have gone up and looked at the place. Only the chimneys are standing and burned trees. It is very dangerous now as trees can fall over anytime and things are still burning. I very much regret having to tell everyone this news but I am here and have seen it. At the same time, the creeks are running and the place can be cleaned up and will grow again. It will take some work but it can be done.



This morning at about 4:30 a.m. the Ashworth property was fine and we had managed to save the cabins at Seven Pines. 8 mile ranch burned but the house and main out buildings were saved. Only by Gods grace and Dulce’s courage was she able to avoid the fire and she is fine. I found her about 3:30 a.m. standing in a corner of the lot I had her on with all the trees burned or burning around her. Many people had looked for her but no one could find her. She was by the creek up wind from the fire and she was not burned at all. Smart and very brave horse. It only took a second and I was able to put her halter on and walk her out through the fires. She was eating hay as soon as she found it while I was talking to people and she is in a safe place now. Praise God.



So far the town (Independence) is safe but wind can move the fire very quickly as it did today. The fire has come all the way down Independence Creek to the County campgrounds where it stopped. It burned out the town water station and we are required to boil water for now. There are major efforts to keep the fire from crossing Independence Creek and going South and East into town. Our Fire Department is pretty much left to protect town and Fort Independence now as the danger to most remote houses is over due to burning all around them that has created good fire breaks and many crews are here and in charge of brush fires.



We were called out today at about 2:00 p.m. and the fire that came down south fork of Oak Creek was at the Bright ranch (I am told their home was saved but not much else, I haven’t seen it yet). The fire showed no sign of moving then. We were called to put out a “hot spot” fire north of Fort Independence. I was at 8 mile ranch and drove by when the fire was about 20 feet in diameter. When the fire department got to the fire it was on both sides of the highway and moving North fast over a large area. Another fire fighter and I were fighting a fire by the road side on the highway and had to jump in the truck and drive away with all lines out still as the fire came up both sides of the road and began to burn by and surround our truck and the Fire chief in his truck. The fire has easily jumped the highway several times now. Even with a full powered 1 ½ inch line blasting water, I could not slow or even reduce the fire. This is just an example of how this fire can and does move. We have all been careful but this is a scary fire.



By 5:00 P.M. or so everything down to the Hatchery had burned. The Oak Creek camp ground burned last night. I do recall looking up as I was driving by and seeing the line of fire from the base of the Sierras to South Fork Creek coming down the hill very fast. They had widened the fire break at the road but with the hot fast wind, spot fires start everywhere, even miles away and with dry brush the spot fires grow and move very fast. It only takes one spark in the trees to get things going and water becomes like gasoline, or so it seems. It is very dry here and there was very little water this winter. The fire just came down the hill from the Bright Ranch in a long line and went right through the place.



Tomorrow or tonight the fire could move again. While much of the valley and mountains have burned there is still a lot of fuel (brush & trees) and places for the fire to go. If a house in town caught fire it would spread very quickly in the heat and wind and could burn much of the town very fast. There is still a lot of fire burning and hot spots all around. Fortunately, places that have burned have burned so hot that there is nothing left but ash and this provides solid fire breaks. We all have a good idea where the burned areas are and where the vulnerabilities continue to exist. God willing this is over and the fire will burn out on its own. We do have huge firefighting resources here now including multiple helicopters and airplanes. They are very effective and there are hundreds of crew members working. Our fire Department is getting some sleep for now. Me too.

Rick,
So far your permit is OK. I'm just back in Socal from my home in Big Pine. Inyo is not allowing any permits from between Georges Creek (just north of Lone Pine and Whitney) and Baker Creek (near Big Pine) until July 12. I'm betting they may extend that date. Anyone planing a hike in the next few weeks should probably consider Whitney and south or something from Bishop Pass north.

Janice,
Thanks for sharing the post from the firefighter's Dad. We often forget what dangerous work this is. Our prayers are with all the firefighters. My son, from UC Davis, CA was called up yesterday. He's a rookie on a hand crew and will be reporting to his first assignment. As yet we don't know where they were sending him.

If anyone has more info on the Big Pine Canyon (Sage) fire, I'd appreciate it. No maps are posted anywhere yet. I also have a wilderness permit for July 25 to go in to the Palisades Glacier and thereabouts, possibly climbing Mt. Sill. The Inyo Complex fire currently has a projected containment date of July 21, but that doesn't necessarily include Big Pine Canyon, so don't know about that yet.