Boot Fire in Mono County doubles in size overnight, Highway 395 detour at Holbrook Junction

Highway 395 from Walker to Bridgeport and State Route 108 over Sonora Pass remain closed Thursday due to the Boot Fire, which remains out of control and burning along the Walker River northwest of Bridgeport in Mono County, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The Boot Fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain approximately nine miles southwest of Walker and 15 miles northwest of Bridgeport, Calif. The cause of the fire is under investigation. As of late Thursday morning the fire is currently 6,706 acres with three percent containment. It was around 3,000 acres on Wednesday afternoon.

Highway 395 remains closed from eastside lane south of Walker, Calif., to the north end of Bridgeport. Both Bridgeport and Walker areas are accessible to travelers, with through traffic detoured into Smith Valley at Holbrook Junction, Nevada State Route 208, in Douglas County, four miles north of the Nevada and California state line. Crews will assist travelers that are looking to detour around the closure.

There are currently 400 personnel on the fire. Thunderstorms are expected to decrease slightly Thursday, however fire behavior continues to be extreme, with low humidity recovery and winds expected for the weekend.

On Wednesday residents and campers were evacuated from recreation sites on Sonora Pass, including the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. A mandatory evacuation was put into effect by Mono County Sheriff’s office utilizing the “Code Red” emergency notification system for Devil’s Gate Pass, Swauger Creek and Fales Hot Springs, four miles south of US Highway 395 and CA State Route 108 (Sonora Junction).

Fire crews Thursday will continue to improve containment lines using hand crews, dozers, and aircraft to keep the fire west of Swauger Creek, south of Deep Creek, east of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center and North of Devils Gate, according to the Forest Service.

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 here.

Sonora Pass, State Route 108 is closed at the Mono Tuolumne county line to US 395. Go here for updates from Caltrans.

Recreation Sites Closed: Bootleg, Chris Flat, Sonora Bridge, and Leavitt Meadows Campground/Trailhead, and Leavitt Meadows Pack Station. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between CA SR 108 at Sonora Pass and Highway 4 at Ebbetts Pass.

Meanwhile, the North Fire is burning in the North Fork of the American River Canyon in Placer County, Calif. The fire remains active, having burned more than 1,200 acres of as Wednesday night.

There are 745 personnel on the fire, with a 10 percent containment. Fire officials report the containment lines were holding well.

Current threats are to the northeast and include railroad systems, buried gas lines, the Interstate 80 corridor, Snowflower RV resort and organizational camps at Lake Valley Reservoir.

Smoke from that fire has also contributed to hazy skies in the Lake Tahoe Basin and into western Nevada.