Garnet Fire Update: McKinley Grove Threatened
FRESNO COUNTY, CA – The Garnet Fire approached 50,000 acres overnight and has reached the McKinley Grove, with embers reported to have landed in one of the big trees. Smoke Jumpers were being sent into the grove to assess the situation. Dinkey Creek is also directly threatened, with Shaver Lake being the next area in the fire’s path.
Poor air quality was forecast to persist through at least Tuesday in and around Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes, according to the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. A dense smoke advisory was in effect until at least 11 a.m. Tuesday in portions of the eastern Sierra for visibility as low as a quarter mile, which could make for hazardous travel and cause respiratory health issues, according to the National Weather Service.
The following update was provided by the US Forest Service:
Garnet Fire Quick Facts:
Location: Sierra National Forest, Fresno County
Start Date: August 24, 2025
Cause: Lightning
Size in acres: 49,109
Percent contained: 14%
Total personnel: 2,226
Current Situation:
September 8, 2025 8:00 a.m. The Garnet Fire was active overnight, continuing the north and northwestern push. Driven by alignment up drainages, heavy fuels in continuous timber stands with significant loads of dead and down from beetle kill, and low humidities, the fire advanced significantly to the north, with multiple spot fires establishing across the McKinley Grove Rd. In the northwest, the fire burned to the containment lines between Fence Meadow and Nutmeg Saddle. Fire activity is expected to continue midday as the inversion lifts. This fire growth was anticipated and firefighters continue to create contingencies simultaneously while fighting the fire as close to its active edge as possible. Firefighters have focused on constructing containment lines east of the communities of Tollhouse and Shaver Lake for the past two weeks.
Overnight, crews strategically fired south along the dozer contingency lines in Bear Mountain to receive fire on more favorable terms and protect assets in the Dinkey Meadow, Bear Meadow, and Lost Meadow. Fire crews improved on fireline breaks constructed in previous days, positioning fire hose from Fence Meadow Lookout south toward Sycamore Ridge Rd.
With the fire’s active growth toward its northern and northwestern edge, the incident management team has shifted resources to meet the need, including augmenting resources to reinforce and support contingency lines in Dinkey Meadow and Bear Meadow. Crews in the north will work on encapsulating the spot fires north of McKinley Grove Rd and preparing the Snow Corral Road as a containment line using a combination of hand crews and machine clearing.
On the eastern edge, firefighters have been actively working on the fire perimeter, engaging in direct line construction where possible and snagging the line in preparation for strategic firing.
Aerial resources, including heavy helicopters and very large air tankers (VLAT), will support the direct suppression of fires as conditions permit, laying down retardant in locations most advantageous to slowing the fire’s progression.
Today is the transition day from California Incident Management Team 10 to California Incident Management Team 5.
Contact us:
Facebook: facebook.com/SierraNF
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra
Email: 2025.garnet.ca@firenet.gov
Fire Information: 559-490-7329, hours: 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.