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Rough Fire Holding At Just Over 151,000 Acres

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Firelines are holding on the Rough Fire as interior fuels continue to burn out, crews are demobilized, and rehabilitation and repair becomes the order of the day.

The Rough Fire is now estimated at 151,493 acres with 85 percent containment. There are currently 651 personnel assigned to the incident, including 9 crews, 26 engines, 4 helicopters, 9 bulldozers and 24 water tenders.

There have been 11 firefighters injured to date, and 4 structures have been lost.

Fire crews are continuing to patrol the perimeter looking for any remaining hot spots. Interior pockets of unburned vegetation along with the northeast edge of the fire continue to creep and smolder.

Fire suppression rehabilitation continues as crews repair firelines. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is being assembled for the Rough Fire. This team assesses long term threats to life and property, water quality and deteriorated ecosystems from further damage after the fire is out. Post-fire effects on fish, wildlife, archaeological sites and endangered species are another consideration for the BAER Team.

SOUTH ZONE:

The weather forecast calls for a brief period of cooler temperatures today and tomorrow followed by a gradual warming and drying trend through the remainder of the week. An Infrared flight helped direct fire crews to areas where heat remains near the fire perimeter.

As fire crews complete mop-up operations, suppression rehabilitation crews are removing equipment and repairing hand and bulldozer lines by scattering or chipping slash, constructing water bars to control erosion, and recontouring mid-slope fire lines.

The Rough Fire Incident Commander wants to remind forest visitors that hunting season overlaps with fire season. Fire restrictions remain in effect in the national forests and the danger of new fire starts remains high in much of California. For more information on forest closures, contact your local Forest Service District office.

Highway 180 remains closed north of the Grant Tree main parking area.

Visitors should be aware that firefighters continue to work on the fireline in the vicinity of Grant Grove.

Visit www.nps.gov/seki for the latest recreation and park information.

NORTH ZONE:

A Type 4 organization from the Sierra National Forest has assumed command of the Rough Fire.

AREA CLOSURES:

Area closures for public and firefighter safety remain in place on the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Park, and Kings Canyon National Park. A phased reopening of certain areas of the National Monument and National Parks continues.

The Rough Fire was started by lightning on July 31.

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