Lion Wildfire Update

[admin]

Heavy smoke hampering Kern River Valley air quality and those with respiratory problems for unforeseeable future.

News Release from Forest Service:
Lion Wildfire Update, Public Meeting Planned In Kernville

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST The Lion Fire has grown to approximately 5,500 acres. The fire showed several days of significant growth a few days ago, including 1,900 acres on July 19. However, fire growth and activity has diminished in the last two days, growing only 105 acres on July 21.

Firefighters are actively working to protect private property and cabins near the fire, including creating better defensible space around cabins, placing hose and firelines near these structures, and completing small burnout operations to develop a perimeter around these areas. Firefighters are looking for opportunities to ignite at higher elevation, either aerially or on the ground, to promote backing fire. This will help encourage desired fire behavior in an area that has not seen fire in over 90 years. Weather conditions and expected fire behavior will dictate this action. Portions of the Golden Trout Wilderness are closed for safety concerns in these areas.

The Lion Wildfire response is achieving Region 5 Leadership Intent as stated in a March 2011 Forest Service report. Fire response is founded on a commitment to land and resource management that is based on principles of ecological restoration and dedicated to make land and water ecosystems more sustainable, more resilient, and healthier under current and future conditions. The full report can be found on the Forest Service Region 5 website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/EcologicalRestoration/ .

“Those aspects of fire that are unfavorable, such as smoke, using the strategies such as burning out on this fire, are outweighed by immediate benefits of firefighter and public safety, as well as future ecological restoration benefits,” stated Western Divide District Ranger Priscilla Summers. “It is fortunate that this wildfire occurred during a wet year rather than a drought year, when much more smoke and damage to resources would result.”

A public meeting is planned for Tuesday, July 26 at 6:30 pm in Kernville at the Odd Fellows Hall at 50 Tobias Street. District Rangers, Incident Commanders, and representatives from the Eastern Kern APCD and Kern County Public Health will be in attendance to answer questions about the current fire situation, future strategy for the Lion Fire, and to address concerns about smoke impacts.

Fire information lines are established at Kernville #760-379-5646 ext. 515, or Springville #559-539-2607 ext. 214.

[admin]

For Immediate Release
August 26, 2011
Contact: Denise Alonzo, 559-539-2607 ext. 212 or dalonzo@fs.fed.us

TRAILS TO MAGGIE AND COYOTE LAKES REOPEN
The Lion Wildland Fire, burning in the backcountry of Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia
National Park has reached approximately 20,500 acres since being ignited by lightning on July
8th. Fire officials have reopened two trails in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Sequoia
National Forest for hikers, but the Lion Fire area closure is expected to remain in place through
mid September.

The two trails that have reopened are Trail 31E14 accessing Maggie Lakes, and Trail 32E05
accessing Coyote Lakes. Trail closures in the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are still
in effect where Trail 31E14 crosses into the southern part of Sequoia National Park near Sheep
Mountain. Travel north of the Forest/Park boundary is prohibited.

Travelers need to stay on the trail for their safety. There are still hot spots smoldering in the
burned area, trees that may fall having been weakened by fire, and rolling debris loosened from
burned vegetation.

The Lion Fire is 95% contained by rocky ridges, areas with little or no fuel, previous wildland
fires, rivers, creeks, existing trails, or fire line cut through surface fuels. There is no estimate for
when the fire will be fully contained within this pre-determined perimeter.
Area closures remain in effect in Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia National Park. Visit
http://inciweb.org/incident2400/ for maps of the closures. Anyone planning to travel into the
Forest’s Wilderness is asked to contact the Western Divide Ranger District at 559-539-2607
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For those planning wilderness travels in the southern area of
Sequoia National Park, call 559-565-3766.