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. |
|
Incident name, Inyo Complex; cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/inciden… |
|
|
|
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. |
|
Latest from your eyewitness in the Big Pine Sage Fire (as it's officially called by officials): |
|
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?) |
|
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. |
|
Good vibes out to all those working the line. |
|
Bruce, thanks for sharing your pictures with us. I think you captured a couple of compelling moments... |