Single Publication

Acorn Fire: 5 acres - 95% containment

Packsaddle Fire: 47 acres - 95% containment    

Long Fire: 4,069 acres - 0% containment

Trout Fire: 8,721 acres - 0% containment

Total Personnel: 390

Current Situation: The Bureau of Land Management is now a cooperating agency with lands under their jurisdiction directly impacted. Another management change is the addition of a second fire camp located at Troy Meadow. This change will accommodate the increased resources fighting the Trout Fire and decrease daily travel times. The Long Fire resources will continue to utilize Camp 9 in the Kern River Valley. Firefighters have made great progress on securing the Acorn and Packsaddle Fires and each will remain in patrol status until full containment has been reached. Much of the resources from these fires are being redirected to the Trout Fire and Long Fire.

Acorn Fire and Packsaddle Fire: The Acorn Fire and Packsaddle Fire remain in a patrol status after days of mopping up and securing control lines. Crews will monitor the fire perimeter ensuring there is no threat of flare-up or escape. 

Trout Fire: Fire behavior was low to moderate Wednesday and allowed for more direct line construction on the western side, along Boone Meadow Road. This resulted in reduced perimeter growth compared to previous days. Prevailing westerly winds and topography continue the trend of pushing the fire east. As direct line construction continues south along the western side, crews will look for opportunities to build control lines on the southern perimeter near Machine Creek. Crews continue to reinforce Sherman Pass Road, while also looking for opportunities of engagement closer to the fire’s edge. Aircraft are assisting in directing the fire towards the wilderness area where natural barriers can be utilized.

Long Fire: The Long Fire, burning in the Domeland Wilderness south of the Trout Fire, remains a high priority. Elevated temperatures and increased winds have pushed the fire east into the Chimney Peak Wilderness. Multiple hotshot crews have been shuttled via helicopter to the fire area. They are working to anchor the fire and build control lines.

Weather: Thursday will benefit from cloud and smoke shading over the fires due to an inversion layer over the area. This will cause temperatures to remain lower and relative humidity to rise. While the early part of the day will see weather that improves firefighters’ ability to fight fire, the afternoon is expected to make conditions more challenging once the inversion lifts. Thunderstorms are forecasted to flow through the area of the fires, bringing with it gusty and erratic winds. The warming and drying trend with critically low relative humidity is forecasted to return for the weekend.             

Forest Closures & Restrictions: Lands, roads, trails and recreation sites around the Trout, Long, and Packsaddle Fires are temporarily closed under Forest Order No. 0513-24-12. Fire restrictions are also in effect under Forest Order No. 0513-24-10. Both orders, along with accompanying appendices and maps, can be found on the Sequoia National Forest’s Forest Orders web page: tinyurl.com/2en2d36k.