NORTH FORK – Firefighters continue mop-up and suppression repair on the Willow Fire, which burned 5,702 acres northeast of North Fork, and is now 90 percent contained.
Crews are being demobilized to other fires across the state, and the number of personnel assigned to the incident is now 864. The public is reminded that a lot of firefighting equipment will be traveling on local roads going into the Willow Fire area and others will be leaving the community heading to other incidents.
Smoke can still be seen within the fire perimeter as interior islands and heavy down material continue to smolder.
Burn area on Willow Fire 8-5-15 – photo SNF
The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team continues their survey of the burn area today.
The Willow Fire will transition to a Sierra National Forest Type 3 management organization on Friday morning at 6 a.m.
No structures were damaged or destroyed, and six minor injuries to firefighters were reported.
Estimated date for total containment is Aug. 15.
All evacuation orders have been lifted, though some roads remain closed to the public. Residents will have to have proper identification to be allowed access.
Central Camp Road from Road 274 at the Bass Lake Dam has been reopened to the public.
Road Closures
Willow Canyon Road, Autumn Ridge Road, and Douglas Ranger Station Road remain closed to the general public. All road closure are until further notice.
Campground Closures
Gaggs, Whiskers, and Whiskey Falls campgrounds are closed.
Remember – One Less Spark – One Less Wildfire
Whether working to create defensible space around your home, just mowing the lawn, or pulling your dirt bike over to the side of the road, if you live in a wildland area, you need to use all equipment responsibly. Lawn mowers, weedeaters, chain saws, grinders, welders, tractors, and trimmers can all spark a wildland fire. Do your part, the right way, to keep your community fire safe.
For more information about wildfire prevention please visit: http://www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark/
The Willow Fire was started on July 25, reportedly by a juvenile playing with a lighter.
