SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire, burning on the Bass Lake Ranger District near Rock Creek, has prompted the evacuation and closure of all campgrounds along Forest Road 81 (Minarets/Mammoth Pool Road).
According to the Forest Service, the closure on Road 81 will be moved down to the Redinger Lake Overlook, about seven miles up from North Fork.
Residents of the Saginaw Creek area and Kinsman Flats will be allowed in unless and until fire behavior warrants another course of action.
Evacuations are now in place for the Mammoth Pool area, and in the area above Cascadel, which includes the Benedict Meadow, Peckinpah Meadow and Whiskey Falls areas. USFS personnel and Sheriff’s deputies are using OHV’s to make contact with campers, hunters, and recreation users in that area on Forest Service Road 8S09. No notification has been received concerning evacuation of the Cascadel Woods community.
Pre-evacuation warnings have been issued to Arnold Meadow and Kinsman Flat. Those who received the notices have been advised to be packed and ready to leave if the fire becomes a threat.
The fire is now estimated at 2,000 acres with 0% containment. There are 384 personnel currently assigned to the incident.
