Slink Fire south of Topaz grows to more than 2,200 acres
UPDATE: A wildfilre that started Saturday night continues to burn southwest of Topaz Lake in Mono County on the Bridgeport Ranger District, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Slink Fire, located in the Slinkard Valley southwest of Topaz Lake, burned actively throughout the night and is currently estimated at 2,282 acres, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. Earlier Sunday morning the U.S Forest Service reported the fire was at 1,500 acres with 0 percent containment. The fire has been exhibiting extreme and erratic fire behavior due to dry fuel conditions, winds and topography alignment.
It is moving east toward Coleville, south towards Little Antelope and west toward the Iceberg Wilderness, burning in pinyon juniper and grass. The Little Antelope Pack Station on Mill Creek Road has been evacuated as a precaution. There are currently no other evacuations or closures, according to the Forest Service.
Saturday, fixed wing aircraft was unable to launch due to limited visibility from drift smoke from the ongoing California wildfires, so firefighters work to establish an anchor point on the north end, or heel, of the fire. Firefighters are hoping for clearer conditions Sunday and have ordered multiple helicopters and air tankers to aid in suppression efforts.
The primary focus will be the eastern edge of the fire, which is currently about a mile from Coleville, Calif. Additional ground crews have also been ordered, along with a Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team, who will be arriving on the fire today.
Weather conditions can greatly affect fire behavior so they are closely monitored by fire managers and firefighters. Today’s weather is expected to present gusty winds and low humidity levels, which may further affect fire behavior.
For more information as it becomes available, see inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7105/, as well as Facebook: @HumboldtToiyabeNF (#SlinkFire) and Twitter: @HumboldtToiyabe (#SlinkFire).