SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Crews are doing a great job of holding the line on the French Fire. New numbers this morning estimate it at 13,835 acres with 60% containment.
The evacuation order has been lifted as of 9 a.m. today for residents living in the Arnold Meadow and Wagner’s Mammoth Pool Resort area. The Forest Service Area Road and Trail Closure remains in effect and the area remains closed to the public.
There are currently 1,695 personnel assigned to the incident. Firefighting resources, such as engines and crews, will continue to be demobilized from the French Fire and sent to other fires in northern California. The public is reminded a lot of firefighting equipment will still be traveling on the roads going into the fire area and others will be leaving the community heading to other incidents.
Today crews will continue building and reinforcing fire lines on the north and west perimeters, where the interior fire continues to burn out. The east perimeter has burned down to the San Joaquin River. Fire crews will also continue fire line suppression repair work, which is repairing or improving fire damaged lands unlikely to recover on their own. The extent of repair will vary depending upon intended use after the fire.
Investigators continue to seek the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for the abandoned campfire that started the French Fire just below Rock Creek Campground. Anyone with information about persons seen in the area of Rock Creek Road near the San Joaquin River during the afternoon or evening of Sunday, July 27, is encouraged to call the 559-877-2605.
Information about the Forest Closure and the closure can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/o44cvyu.
Today’s weather forecast in the area calls for mostly clear skies with normal diurnal downslope and downcanyon winds.
