Owens Valley is Burning

Heads up! 395 is closed from Big Pine south. Heard over the shortwave that Independence is being evacuated, and Seven Pines (on the road up to Onion Valley was evacted early in the day. Drove up the road towards Glacier Lodge and a Sherrif told me to turn around. They were on the way to evacuate the campgrounds. Looks like it's burning pretty bad on the old moraine, flames licking 30 plus feet. Can't tell if the fire has gotten down into the trees or burning up the North or South Pine Creek canyons.

Then drove up the Whites a ways to look down the Owens and the smoke is bad. Did see some flames all the way up to 8,000 feet. Eavesdropped on another shortwave conversation between fire and bombers. They were talking about the fire crossing 395 in places.

Over ten fires started here over the afternoon, all due to lightning.

Incident name, Inyo Complex; cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/inciden…

Thanks for the proper name ATS.

Here's a few photos I took this afternoon and tonight.

Just returned from the Big Pine fire line. The fire has burned down to the road leading up to the Glacier Lodge at about where I was last night. Winds have picked up considerably, blowing from the south,southwest and spreading the fire along the hillside and down into the canyons. Fire personal are guarding houses up there and helicopters are dropping water. The Thumb, Birch Mountain and Mt. Sill are all obscured by the heavy smoke and down in Big Pine the sun is cast in a surreal orange glow. Many people out in lawn chairs keeping an eye on the fire while rubbing the same eyes that are stinging. The fire is considerably bigger than yesterday. It is nowhere close to being contained. The good news is the thunderstorms that were forecasted don't seem to be happening as of late. Just a few cumulus over White Mountain.

As for the Independence fire, I once again drove a ways up the Whites and saw that the fire looked to be burning in Onion Valley, and much higher than yesterday, although the fire in Owens Valley looks to be more contained. Again, these are simply eyewitness accounts. I haven't the time to go south. Got to get out of this smoke and go climbing in Rock Creek.

Godspeed and safety to anyone caught in the highcountry and to the firefighters.

Latest from your eyewitness in the Big Pine Sage Fire (as it's officially called by officials):

Fire has spread down about a mile from town tonight. The upper canyon burned in the afternoon around 3 p.m. No word if it got into South or North Big Pine Creeks, nor if any structures up there burned, but from the looks of things (heavy white smoke) it well might have. Road is closed at the bottom of the hill at the Glacier View trailer park.

Talked to a few people who live up the street. They're packed and ready to go should we have to evacuate. Fire personal impossible to interview right now. Been thinking of digging out my old press pass but it probably wouldn't work in this county.

From the top of the street, about one two blocks from the 395, one can hear the fire crackling. Smoke is pretty bad down here. Most people I talked to can't sleep, including myself obviously.

The wind is rather calm but billowing some curtains on the west side of the house. Not a good direction. If I was a praying man I'd pray. Since I'm not, again, godspeed to all living Big Pine souls.

Will update in the morning. In the meantime some more pics from this morning and tonight.

Wild Photo's! Hopefully some containment soon.

395 was closed for sometime late yesterday afternoon and through the evening. We were in Bishop and heard reports of people having to divert through death valley or cut across to the west side via HWY 14. Buddies of ours were at the Piaute Pallace in Bishop as they made announcements that the bus would be loaded at 11pm and if the road was still closed they would, "wait it out in Big PIne". (Can you imagine? I never did figure that one out, wouldn't it make sense to keep the gamblers at the casino vs. a bus in Big Pine?)

Anyhoo, headed south today with no road closures but lots of smoke, burned brush on both sides of the 395 between Big Pine and Independence. Spot fires continue in the high country - lots of Hot Shots out there working to get it contained. No trouble south near Lone Pine or access to Whitney Portal.

Thanks to everyone who's working to contain the fires!!

~Susan

Fires nearly out. The sighs of relief are palpable. People drinking beer, including myself. Drove down to Independence today and the fire has moved up Mt/ Baxter. Onion Valley looks unburned in the higher elevations. No word on when Forest Service will issue permits for the burned areas, nor when the roads will open. Talked to Randy, who works up at the Big Pine Sage Flat campground. The side of his camper was burned, but he said the lodge and other structures did not. Same goes for the backcountry parking. He doesn't know when he'll be allowed back up there, but could be as soon as this Tuesday.

So life goes on. Cheers to all for the well-wishes. Pics from today below.

Good vibes out to all those working the line.

Shaping up to be a busy fire season out west.

Bruce, thanks for sharing your pictures with us. I think you captured a couple of compelling moments...