SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire is now 85% at 13,835 acres. Resources are being demobilized and the number of personnel assigned to the incident is now 1,336.
Today crews will continue fire line suppression repair and mop-up on all parts of the fire. The interior parts of the fire continue to cool, but some areas may still produce smoke for several more days.
The Gaggs Campground, which is west of the fire area, is not within the forest closure area and remains open for public use. The Whisky Falls Campground is within the forest closure and will be closed for public use until the forest closure is lifted. The French Fire did not impact the Whisky Falls Campground.
Forest Road 4S81 (Minarets/Mammoth Pool Road) between Arch Rock and Redinger Overlook and Forest Road 6S01 (Grizzly Road) between Beasore Road and Minarets Road remain closed to for all public use, including local residents.
Information about the Forest Closure and the closure can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/o44cvyu.
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 that a lot of firefighting equipment will still be traveling on the roads going into the French Fire area and others will be leaving the community heading to other incidents.
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.
