The best rain/hail shower break out of the year occurred Saturday afternoon in Mammoth as a significant deformation area of surface convergence developed over Southern Mono County and along the Eastern Slopes of the South Central Sierra. Forty Three hundreds fell at Mammothweather.com and pea sized hail along with some minor street flooding occurred Saturday. The forecast models are showing drying in the med levels and dew point are lower this morning.  The trend will accelerate today and only isolated TSRWS are expected.

The upper low off the Southern Ca coast that created the deformation yesterday is progged to open today into a trof and that is resulting in the drying that has already begun.  By tomorrow Monday, during the afternoon and evening a true Zephyr will develop as the gradient increases west to east. The trof to our west Tuesday into Wednesday will further increase Zephyr winds and by Wednesday, a Summertime wind event is possible for west winds 30 to 40 MPH region wide.  Much lower dew point will accompany the winds for fire weather concerns.

Temperature will rise a bit with the dryer air….Mid to upper 70s in Mammoth and the night time lows may fall into the upper 30s to lower 40s by Mid week.

 

Sunday AM Aspen Fire Update:

The Aspen Fire was discovered on Monday, July 22 burning on the Sierra National Forest- High Sierra Ranger District. The fire is burning below Stump Springs Road north of Aspen Springs.

Additional resources continue to arrive, assisting in fire suppression. Sierra National Forest initial suppression efforts, crews were able to keep the fire from burning into the Kaiser Wilderness. Firefighter and public safety remains the highest priority.

The South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team assumed command of the Aspen Fire at 6:00 P.M. July 24, 2013. The team is working with the Sierra National Forest to manage suppression efforts.

Smoke from the Aspen Fire is impacting air quality in local communities. Individuals sensitive to smoke are suggested to remain indoors and keep windows closed, to minimize exposure to smoke.

The fire is in steep, rugged, inaccessible terrain. There is no imminent threat to the communities of Big Creek or Huntington Lake at this time.

The Sierra National Forest is suppressing 15 additional fires and all are less than ¼ acre in size; all of these fires were started by lightning.

Road and Trail Closures

Roads:

Stump Springs Road is closed to all traffic due to fire suppression activity.

Minarets Road (4S81) from Fish Creek to Jackass Rock Organization Campground, Grizzly at Beasore Road to Minarets Road are closed to the public. Residents within the road closure are allowed into the area with valid identification.

Trails:

Per the U.S. Forest Service Closure Order number 15-13-09, the Kaiser Wilderness is closed.

 

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Monday July 22nd, 2013 approx. 10:15 PM
Location seven miles north of Big Creek
Incident Commander David Cooper

Current Situation

Total Personnel 1,187
Size 8,927 acres
Percent Contained 15%
Fuels Involved Timber with mixed chaparral
Fire Behavior Fire continued to be active throughout the night.
Significant Events The closure of Stump Springs road remains in effect. The Sierra National Forest has issued a Forest Closure Order for the Kaiser Wilderness. A precautionary evacuation of campgrounds west of the San Joaquin River on Forest Road 4S81 are in place.

Outlook

Planned Actions Utilize air resources continued direct attack when possible. Continue to build handlines and conduct burnout operations when possible.
Growth Potential High
Terrain Difficulty Extreme
Remarks A firing operations may continue today. Good progress with indirect line is being made on the northwest side of the fire. Air resources may be grounded most of the day because of the inversion lifting late in the afternoon. Crews continue to use direct attack when possible. Access to the lower portions of the fire along the San Joaquin River’s edge is an obstacle. Smoke from the fire continues to impact the San Joaquin Valley and Southern Mono County.