The Sherman Pass Road is now open to Kennedy Meadows. However the connecting road that takes users to the Blackrock Trailhead and into the Inyo side of the Golden Trout Wilderness remains closed. As soon as this route officially is open to the public, you can expect an update from GTW.org
Incident Start Date: 6/09/2019 Cause: Lightning Size: 523 acres Containment: 60%
Incident Type: Full Suppression
Vegetation Type: Brush and timber
Agency: Inyo National Forest, U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Resources Assigned: Engines: 1 Helicopters: 6 Crews: 5 Total Personnel: 205
Current Situation: The Inyo National Forest Type 3 Incident Management Organization is managing the Jordan Fire led by Incident Commander Todd McDivitt and Incident Commander Trainee Don Shoemaker. The Jordan Fire has been determined to have been caused by lightning. The fire has remained at 523 acres for the past two days due to completed fire control lines and reduced fire behavior.
With fire line construction complete, crews continue to extinguish hot spots adjacent to the line with the aid of water dropping helicopters. Continued warm and dry weather cautions fire managers to keep a limited number of firefighters on the fire to guard against increased fire activity. Fire crews no longer required on the Jordan Fire are being flown back to Lone Pine Incident Command Post to start the demobilization process. After showers, clean uniforms and necessary paperwork, crews will be released to head home to rest and prepare for their next assignment.
Logistical support of firefighters is critical to their efficiency, safety and wellness. Equipment like hose, pumps, fittings, fuel cans, and food storage boxes are sent from centralized fire warehouses to the fire base camp then on to the fire lines. Replacement items such as fire-resistant clothing and gloves are available to firefighters when they return to base camp. Batteries, chain saw gas and oil and other expendable supplies along with food and medical supplies are sent out to the spike camps near the fire lines. Every item is ordered, received, dispersed and accounted for by Logistics Section Chief Doug Winn and his staff. Medical Support is provided by Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics on the fire lines responding to any illness or injury and providing medical supplies like foot powder, sunscreen and medications. Timely and complete logistic support has been critical to meeting the control objectives of the Jordan Fire.
Incident Commander Todd McDivitt said, “I am proud of the hard work and professionalism of the men and women who responded to this early season, high elevation fire. This first major fire of the year in California is a good test of our readiness for what will likely be another long fire season throughout the western United States.” Command of the Jordan Fire will transition to an Inyo National Forest Type 4 organization on Wednesday.
This is the last Update for the Jordan Fire. As needed, any significant information will be posted on the information outlets below.
For the latest information try these sources:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6384/ Face book: www.facebook.com/inyonf
Twitter: @Inyo_NF
Photo from InciWeb
The Jordan Fire grows to over 580 acres. This has resulted into trail closures that are near the area. See the image below for closures and descriptions. Following the trail closures, the official announcement and current status report is available.
Jordan Fire Update
June 12, 2019
Media Contact: Kirstie Butler
Kirstie.butler@usda.gov
Jordan Fire Info Line: (760) 920-7149
Incident Start Date: 6/09/2019
Cause: Unknown
Size: 581 acres
Containment: 5%
Incident Type: Full Suppression
Vegetation Type: Brush and timber
Agency: Inyo National Forest, U.S Forest Service
Resources Assigned: Engines: 1 Helicopters: 4 Crews: 6 Total Personnel: 180
Current Situation: The Inyo National Forest Type 3 Incident Management Team is managing the Jordan Fire led by Incident Commander Todd McDivitt. The fire grew by approximately 250 acres to the east and south but remains south of Nine Mile Creek and north of Manzanita Knob. Manzanita Knob is a prominent peak on a ridge that forms the boundary between the Inyo and Sequoia National Forests. Close coordination between the Forests is taking place in mutual support of the Jordan Fire objectives. The fire is approximately 26 miles southwest of Lone Pine, California in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Firefighters work to minimize the impacts of line construction and camping to maintain the wilderness character of the land.
Additional crews and other resources are arriving to suppress the Jordan Fire. After a briefing at the Incident Command Post in Lone Pine, crews and all their equipment are flown to within walking distance of the fire lines. These crews will stay at the fire for multiple days at one of two spike camps as helicopters provide food and supplies. These additional crews increase the rate at which fire line can be safely built. As more crews arrive at the fire, the logistical needs to supply and feed the crews increases. Pack mules are on order to relieve some of the logistical missions for the helicopters so they can increase the availability of water drops on the fire. Direct and indirect line scouting and construction are the principle tactical objectives again today. Crews achieved 5 percent containment of the fire perimeter yesterday.
Fire fighters are exposed to risks due to the steep ground and high concentrations of standing dead trees killed during the McNally Fire. In addition to these risks commonly associated with fighting the fire, crews are also exposed to the risk of a chance encounter with a bear or rattlesnake. District Ranger David Andersen reported both animals have been observed in the vicinity of the fire.
A team of Fire Investigators visited the Jordan Fire yesterday to determine the point of the fire’s origin and if possible, determine the cause. The investigators identified the probable point of origin but due to the hazard of falling snags (standing dead trees) they could not safely get close enough to confirm the fire’s cause.
For the latest information try these sources:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6384/
http://www.facebook.com/inyonf
Twitter: @Inyo_NF
Photo from Peter Fulks
Thanks to Peter Fulks for Sharing his photo from his trip up to Horseshoe Meadow. Apparently he had a good day fishing using his tenkara rod. According to him, “they are biting!”
According to Inciweb, there is a fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness. It is located on the Inyo National Forest side, just west of Blackrock. It is currently burning down slope towards Jordan Hot Springs. Here is more information.
The Jordan Fire, located in the Golden Trout Wilderness near Jordan Hot springs, was detected yesterday afternoon. The fire is approximately 150 acres and burning in the 2002 McNally fire footprint. At this time the fire appears to be caused by lightning that was in the area over the last week.
This is a full suppression fire response. The priorities are firefighter safety, protection of one private in-holding located at Soda Flat, and protecting wilderness characteristics in the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Being in the old fire scar makes direct firefighting tactics difficult due to the amount of standing dead trees, dead and down logs, and thick decadent brush. Crews will be shuttled in by helicopter today to assess conditions and to identify tactics that can be safely employed. 1 helicopter, 2 crews, and 1 engine are committed to the fire with more resources on order. The Inyo National Forest’s Type 3 Organization has been activated.
Smoke has been impacting the Kernville area, especially at night, however no other smoke impacts have been reported.
Additional roads have opened providing access to the Golden Trout Wilderness. Openings are on the Inyo National Forest, Mountain Home State Forest, and Sequoia National Park. Are you ready to head out there this weekend in-leu of this news?
Roads open are as follows:
One of the main access points, the North Road, on the Sequoia National Forest still remains closed. As soon as official word is given about the road being open, you can count on reading it here on GTW’s site.
Remember that a road can remain closed for one or several reasons. This includes, but not limited to, road damage, hazards from trees or past storms, and excessive ice/snow. Once deemed safe for public use the road is opened. Please be patient as these agencies work to get the roads cleared for your protection.
June 1 is National Trails Day. A perfect time to get outside and make a difference on a trail. If you are interested, make sure to check out the link below to find an spot near you. If there isn’t one nearby, but you want to start an event there is information on how to do so. Go and help a trail!
Many will head outdoors this weekend in some fashion or another. If you haven’t been to a National Forest in awhile, I encourage you to plan a day trip and go see it. The video above really captures some great scenery and drives a good point home. You OWN the National Forests. It is YOUR taxes that have secured these lands for multiple use benefit. Get out and see them. Get involved in some way to make them better for the next generation and the next.
News just received earlier today from the Western Divide Ranger District office is the Lloyd Meadow Road (22S82) is open! Now users can access both the Jerkey Meadows TH and Forks of the Kern. Other roads are still closed and will likely remain closed into June due to a large snow pack.
As the snow melts and the warmer weather approaches the roads will be cleared. Once cleared of snow, officials need to clear debris for user safety. Don’t forget to keep that in mind during the whole road opening process. Stay tuned for more news here when other roads open!
The final snow survey for 2019 has been completed for the Kern River Basin. April 1 was the big date for the State’s water allocation, so May does not get as much attention in the news. However, for those wanting to head out into the local forest / wilderness, it is a big deal. May gives a picture into how long or short the season may be. A lot of snow likely, but not always, means delays for people accessing trailheads. In the case for the Golden Trout Wilderness, it looks to be that way going forward.
The snow survey results are 178% of normal. Water content is anywhere from 42% to 55%! This means nearly half of the existing snow pack is water. This is great news for streams, aquifers, and the forest’s health. Finding water should be a lot easier this year compared to some of the past years. However, this much snow means you’ll either have to work harder to get out into the wilderness this season.
Typically when the snow pack is well above average, it takes longer to melt (assuming average temperatures). This results in either people not being able to access some of the popular trailheads or needing to change their plans for Memorial Day weekend and the month of June. You can expect to see updated reports here on GTW.org as we get closer to the holiday weekend and into the summer season. Please feel free to share what you discover about road access and trails this season!
