Highway 395 now open as firefighters get upper hand on Marina Fire near Lee Vining
Submitted by editor on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 8:05am
Highway 395 near Lee Vining in Mono County, Calif., was opened up for motorists in both directions Monday morning after firefighters were able to get a significant upper hand on the Marina Fire this weekend, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
As of Monday, the Marina Fire is 654 acres and 46 percent contained. The change in acreage is due to more precise GPS mapping. All evacuations have been lifted and residents have been allowed to return home, according to the Forest Service.
Fire crews working closely with air operations continued to make progress on improving the containment line around the fire perimeter. Mop up operations continued in all areas of the fire and along Highway 395. Hot spots still exist within the fire perimeter and will continue to produce light smoke as it consumes the unburned vegetation.
Crews will focus their efforts on building containment line on steep slopes, identifying hot spots and beginning suppression repair efforts. Monday he forecast weather calls for the highest temperature of the week with low humidity and local afternoon to early evening winds. This will keep firefighters on high alert for potential fire spread.
The Forest Service asks the public continue to drive safely through the fire area as crews continue to utilize the highway to access the fire. Southern California Edison continues to repair and replace power lines affected by the fire. Potential for rockslides still exist and will be monitored by incident personnel.
A Burn Area Emergency Response team is evaluating the fire area for soil erosion, flood assessment and other potential impacts to the natural resources.
