Single Publication

Quarry Fire Update

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Stanislaus National Forest

Incident Management Team (Type-3)

PIO Contacts: Phylis Ashmead, phyllis.ashmead@gmail.com & Eugenie Moore, eugenie.moore@usda.gov

Fire Statistics:

Location: The Quarry Fire is located on the Miwok Ranger District, Stanislaus National Forest, off Forest Road 3N01, east of Bourland Creek and approximately four miles west of the Emigrant Wilderness Border.

Acres burned to date: 1,532

Cause:  Lightning

Total Personnel: 114

Injuries: 0

Background: The Quarry fire was one of many fires ignited by lightning strikes across the forest on September 9, 2023.  District fire managers immediately worked to ensure these naturally ignited fires stayed within pre-determined boundaries. Fire personnel with the Stanislaus National Forest are currently managing the Quarry Fire to achieve multiple resource objectives. 

These objectives include benefits such as reducing concentrations of dead ground fuels, re-establishing multigenerational timber stands, improving wildlife habitat, promoting vegetation diversity, and re-introducing fire into fire adapted ecosystems. 

Today’s Activities:

Crews worked along 3N22A, 3N21 and 3N45Y, igniting unburned pockets, filling in areas where fire hasn’t burned within the perimeter. Ignitions were also conducted along the ridge line south of 03N27 establishing fire in this vicinity, bringing the total acres burned to date to 1,532. Crews also scouted areas today in preparation for future firing operations. 

The public is asked to avoid roads within active fire areas for their safety and the safety of the fire professionals, so they may continue to do the good work on the ground.  The following soft closures are in effect on Forest Roads in the vicinity of Clavey Meadow, Bourland Quarry, near Bourland Creek and Reynolds Creek: 

• 3N21 where it meets 3N16
• 2N71 where it meets 3N16
• 3N21 where it meets 3N01
• 3N22 where it meets 3N01

Smoke impacts from the Quarry Fire drifted down into the Pinecrest Basin and surrounding area again today. Check out the fire and smoke map at fire.airnow.gov for more information. 

Crews will be onsite all night.