Boot Fire Update: More than 6,800 acres burned, zero containment as of Friday morning

Hot and windy conditions are creating extreme fire behavior on the Boot Fire that is burning nine miles southwest of Walker, California.

It is moving most rapidly to the east towards Swauger Creek and to the north on Bootleg Mountain.

An infrared flight took place last night that captured the fire size, which is reported at 6,873 acres as of 9 a.m. Friday. The fire is zero percent contained, and remains under investigation.

Road closures and evacuation notices remain in effect, too, with no changes to closures. A map of the road closures and alternative routes is online at https://bit.ly/2oNqXtt

Firefighters' goal is to keep the fire’s footprint as small as possible. This includes keeping the fire west of Swauger Creek, south of Deep Creek, east of the Mountain Warfare Training Center and north of Devil’s Gate.

In the event the fire does move, engine crews are assessing structures in the Swauger Creek Area to identify homes and other infrastructure to protect. No structures have been destroyed or damaged since the fire started Sept. 4.

Southwest winds will increase around 2 p.m. today, producing another day of active fire behavior. A transfer of Command from a Type 3 Incident Management team to a larger Type 2 Incident Management Team, led by Kim Martin, occurred this morning to support additional resources that are arriving to support the fire.

For Fire Information, please call: 208-495-4228.

Weather: A dry air mass building this weekend will increase temperatures and winds and make conditions even drier. This holds the potential to create extreme fire behavior and a visible smoke column.

While air quality remains good over the Boot Fire, air quality reports for the Boot Fire are online at: https://www.gbuapcd.org/cgi-bin/fireViewer?recID=42.

Today: Air support includes seven helicopters and two CL415 water scoopers. They are in use to slow the fire’s growth until firefighters and heavy equipment can construct containment lines. There is no additional growth occurring on the southwest flank where the Mountain Warfare Training Center is threatened.

Firefighters are working directly along the fire’s edge to contain this portion of the fire’s flank. They are working their way uphill from the Walker River.

On the southeast flank where growth is most aggressive, the fire is now near Swauger Creek. Pilots dropped extensive retardant Thursday to slow its progression.

Firefighters are working with aircraft to develop a containment line that connects to the Burcham Road to keep the fire from establishing in Swauger Creek.

On the northeast flank, the fire is burning on both sides of Burcham Flat Road. Firefighters, supported by helicopters, are working directly along the fire’s edge to contain it.

On the northwest flank, spot fires are occurring in Grouse Meadows; however, the fire is having a difficult time establishing in this area due to stands of aspen trees. Handcrews are extinguishing these spots as they discover them. They are working down a ridge toward the Walker River Corridor.

Road Closure: The Boot Fire burning 15 miles northwest of Bridgeport, CA and remains active along the Highway 395 corridor. For firefighter and public safety, the following road closures are in effect:

— From the Nevada-California Stateline, Highway 395 remains OPEN through Walker, California.

— Highway 395 remains CLOSED from the junction of Eastside Lane and Highway 395 in Walker, California extending to the north end of Bridgeport, California.

— State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) remains closed to all east bound traffic to Kennedy Meadows.

— Mountain Warfare Training Center and Leavitt Meadows Pack Station is accessible to employees only.

Available Detour:

— Both towns of Bridgeport and Walker are accessible to travelers, with through traffic detoured into Smith Valley at Holbrook Junction via Nevada State Route 338 and California State Route 182.

Evacuations: A mandatory evacuation remains in effect for residents and structures in the area of Fales Hot Springs, Devil’s Gate Pass and Swauger Creek, and for the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center.

Residents are encouraged to sign-up for Mono County Emergency Alert system “Code Red” by registering online at https://monosheriff.org/sheriff/page/codered-emergency-alert-system