Containment improves on wildfire near Markleeville; Monitor, Ebbetts Pass areas closed through weekend
Submitted by editor on Fri, 06/26/2015 - 6:08am
GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — Firefighters on the Washington Fire, 3 miles south of Markleeville, California continued to optimize lower wind conditions to increase containment.
Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports significant progress was made Thursday towards containing the western flank of the fire south of Markleeville. The fire, named after the Lady Washington Mine near the origination point, has burned 16,490 acres and is now 15 percent contained.
The reduction in the reported fire size is due to more accurate mapping. The fire was most active overnight and today on the southern flank west of Wolf Creek Meadows in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.
For the safety of the public and due to fire suppression activities, Highways 4 and 89 in the Monitor and Ebbetts Pass areas will remain closed throughout the weekend. Several campgrounds along Highway 4 south of Markleeville as well as the Turtle Rock and Indian Creek campgrounds north of Markleeville remain closed. The Pacific Crest Trail remains open. Markleeville residents are under an evacuation advisory issued by Alpine County Sherriff’s office. No mandatory evacuations are in effect at this time.
As of Thursday, resources on scene include 27 crews, 50 engines and 12 water tenders. Eleven helicopters are supporting the suppression effort, dropping retardant and water, ferrying equipment and supplies, transporting firefighters, and providing aerial surveillance. There are 951 personnel assigned.
The primary strategic priority is to prevent the fire from reaching Markleeville. The next priorities are to contain the fire in the Wolf Creek and Monitor Pass areas. Firefighters continued to develop and implement contingency plans in preparation for the thunderstorms forecasted Friday through Sunday. Thunderstorms are forecasted to begin dry and become wetter beginning Sunday.
Tomorrow’s weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with isolated, mostly dry, thunderstorms, well above normal temperatures with 10 – 15 mph winds in the afternoon. Strong and erratic outflow winds may accompany any thunderstorm development near the fire.
The fire was ignited by lightening that occurred in previous storms, 10 days before it was detected on Friday, June 19.
Fire restrictions go into effect for Western Nevada and eastern California Friday.
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell visited the incident command post for a fire briefing Wednesday and expressed their gratitude to the firefighters for their efforts. California resources secretary John Laird also accompanied Sandoval and Jewell.
Twelve helicopters and 3 air tankers are supporting the suppression effort on the fire, dropping retardant, ferrying equipment and supplies, transporting firefighters, and providing essential surveillance of areas far inside the perimeter not safely accessible by foot. Other key resources include 43 engines, 11 water tenders, and 30 crews. There are now 900 personnel assigned to the fire.
Warmer temperatures are expected through Saturday with record highs likely by Friday. Sierra Front said forecasted dry thunderstorms with strong outflow winds remain a concern for Friday. There will be a fire weather watch for Saturday and Sunday with possible thunderstorms. The fire was ignited by lightning that occurred in previous storms in the weeks before, but smoldered undetected until Friday, June 19 shortly after 6 p.m.
For full coverage on the fire, including maps, graphs, video and stories go to Carson Valley Times here.
Go here to keep up-to-date on the status of this fire, and for other resources, go here and here for air quality updates. For more information on the health implications of wildfires, go here.
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