MADERA COUNTY – Oct. 4, 2020 – Fire lines east of North Fork are now in patrol status with more than 10 miles of hose retrieved from those lines. Crews are looking at opportunities to work directly on the uncontained fire perimeter north and east of Bass Lake. Good success with containment has also been achieved along north west areas of the fire (Red Top) where active gridding (fire fighters moving through the area ensuring embers in the duff located and extinguished) and mop up are ongoing.
The structure group is nearing completion of assessments in the upper 81 Road corridor, but needed to relocate yesterday due to heavy smoke, spending time in the Johnson and Arnold Meadows gridding for smoldering spots.
Removal of hazardous standing dead trees (“snagging”) continued along roads within and adjacent to the fire area. Crews are currently working in the Portuguese Creek and Strawberry Mine areas now that the southern portions of the 81 Road have been completed. Structure protection and assessments are also ongoing.
Cattle in and around the fire area are being rounded up and moved. Be aware of cattle, those working with them, fire personnel and other hazardous conditions when returning to the fire impacted area once it re-opens.
The Sierra National Forest will allow individuals who were evacuated from campgrounds, camping areas and cabins in the South Zone of the fire an opportunity to return and collect their belongings again today, as well as next weekend, on October 10th and 11th. Additional dates and northern access will be added as requested permit numbers dictate. Please follow this link for more information on how to obtain an access permit. Permit Holder Access/Recreation Residence
The strong and very warm high-pressure system will continue to slowly weaken over the next few days. Temperatures will remain above seasonal average until mid-week with low relative humidity. Winds will remain primarily terrain-driven, with smoke transport following diurnal winds upslope and up-canyon during the afternoons changing to downslope/down drainage during the nights and early mornings.
