Ground and air crews continue to battle Buckeye Fire
Today, firefighters throughout the region continue to battle the Buckeye Fire, five miles west of Bridgeport. The Buckeye Fire started yesterday, September 25, 2011 around 11 a.m.
No structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported. Firefighters have been faced with steep terrain and changing wind conditions making it a difficult fire to contain. As of this morning the size of the fire is estimated to be approximately 1,200 acres. At the time of this release there is no estimate on when containment will occur. The investigation of the cause of the fire is still ongoing.
Currently, there are road closures in the area of the fire. Buckeye Road (Forest Road 32017) has been closed to the public between its junction with US-395 on the north and CA-420 (Twin Lakes Road) on the south. The Buckeye Campground has also been evacuated. Drivers are asked to use caution if having to travel on roadways near the fire as crews and apparatus are still actively working. On lookers are asked to stay out of the area for the safety of themselves and personnel.
At 6:00 a.m. this morning, the Buckeye Fire was transitioned over to the Sierra Front, a Type 3 Team, operating under Incident Commander Paul Washam. Approximately 300 personnel are working on the fire, including ground and air crews. Agencies working cooperatively on the fire include the USFS, Cal Fire, Nevada Division of Forestry, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Mono County Sheriff, CHP, Marine Warfare Training Center and Bridgeport Fire Protection District.
Residents are urged to take precautions to avoid health problems related to the smoky conditions caused by the fire. Examples of precautions include: limiting outdoor activities and remain in an air-conditioned environment if possible; if you do not have an air conditioner and if smoke is likely to get inside your house, leave the area until the smoke is completely gone; avoid activities that put extra demand on your lungs and heart; contact your medical provider if you are concerned or your health gets worse. Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have heart of lung disease, of other pre-existing respiratory conditions such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.
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