[pct-l] Clover Fire Update, Thursday, June 26

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

Pacific Crest Trail

Due to increased fire activity and to promote public safety an Area Closure is in Effect.  Please contact the Kernville Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781 for more specific information on the closure.
 
Alternate hiking routes around the fire are available that will tie back into the PCT from Kennedy Meadows to Monache Meadows which include Jackass Trail (35E13), Albanita Trail (35E06), Jackass Peak (35E03), Snake Creek Trail to Monache Jeep Trail (34E38).  Trails will be signed “PCT Detour”.  A trail guard remains on duty at Kennedy Meadows Campground.

SMOKE:  Smoke is a concern for the Kennedy Meadows, Kern River Valley, Olancha and Ridgecrest during the late evening and early morning hours due to a local valley inversion.  California is plagued with 52 uncontained wildfires causing smoke conditions for residences and firefighters.

Thursday’s Weather:  Temperature: 76° F - Winds:  W 9-11 mph - Relative Humidity: 18 %.

Clover Fire Activity
Location:  Sequoia and Inyo National Forests in the South Sierra Wilderness, north of Kennedy Meadows and south of Beck Meadow, California.
Acreage: 13,400 acres. – 15% Contained

Status:  Two Type 2 Incident Management Teams (Johnson) and (Harvey) continue to manage the Clover Incident.  Johnson’s team is managing the fire on the “west zone” of the Sierra Crest and Harvey’s team is managing the “east zone” of the Sierra Crest.  Both fire management teams are working cooperatively and sharing fire resources.  

There was a decrease in fire activity over yesterdays observed fire behavior.  Active suppression actions continue along the south and southeastern side of the fire.  With the availability of multiple air tankers yesterday, firefighters were able to keep the fire from progressing towards Long Canyon in Kennedy Meadows.  Today Handcrews continue to construct fireline and mop-up interior hotspots.  Steep rugged terrain, dry fuels and high winds continue to hamper firefighter efforts.  

The potential for extreme fire behavior with spotting and tree torching continues this afternoon.  A structure protection group lead by Tulare County Fire Department is in place at Kennedy Meadows. 

Fuels/Material Involved: Fire continues to burn in Jeffrey pine, Mountain Mahogany, Sage brush, Manzanita and Rabbitbrush, Pinion and Juniper.

Growth Potential: High
Committed Resources:
•	5 helicopters
•	10 handcrews 
•	33 engines
•	4 Fire use modules (specialized fire crews)
•	1 Dozer
•	Total of 647 personnel assigned

Contacts:			    
Fire Information Line:  760-376-3781 Ext. 699 or www.inciweb.org (due to heavy fire activity, inciweb may not be accessible.  cloverwfu at gmail.com  

Sequoia National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/news/
Inyo National Forest:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/