Bridgeport, CA. September 4, 2020– The Slink Fire exhibited active fire behavior yesterday afternoon and remained active overnight. The fire continued to increase yesterday due to weather, terrain and extremely dry fuels conditions.  Fire managers expect the fire to be active again today due to forecasted winds and an expected cold front. Additional crews are being deployed to the north and south side of the fire as it remains active. The fire has crossed to the west side of the Silver King Creek drainage.   

The fire progressed further to the west, into the Coyote Valley Creek area yesterday, and fire managers are working with the Marine Corp Training Center to establish additional contingency lines to the South.

A Closure Order has been put in place by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for the Slink Fire. The Order can be found by going to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/htnf/alerts-notices/?aid=61374 . We ask the public to please stay out of the area for their safety as well as the safety of the fire personnel.

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a Closure Order for the fire area today, for information please go to:  https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts .

The Marine Corps has provided a day sleeping area for some of the night shift fire crews. The Marine Corps has also provided a crash rescue vehicle to the fire as an asset. Their efforts are much appreciated.

A Smoke Outlook is now being reported daily. The report will be posted to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7105 for easy access.

In addition to the Slink Fire, multiple other fires in California have contributed to the dense smoke and poor air quality in the area. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to view updated smoke impacts.

Fire Information:

·       Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7105/

·       Facebook: @HumboldtToiyabeNF #SlinkFire

·       Twitter: @HumboldtToiyabe #SlinkFire

·       Fire Information Line: 775-4330-5103

 Bridgeport, CA. September 3, 2020– Today the Slink Fire continued to increase and displayed extreme fire behavior due to hotter drier weather conditions and available fuel. The fire is burning west of Antelope Valley and east of the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. The tactics that firefighters used today to suppress the fire included: direct line, indirect line and helicopter support to assist crews working on the fire.

 Special Statement This is the first smoke outlook for the Slink Fire. Additional PM2.5 monitors will be added to the forecast over the next few days. The fire was started by lightning on August 29 in the Slinkard Valley, directly west of Coleville, CA in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Please go to Inciweb for the most up-to-date fire information (link below)

Fire: The Slink Fire is reported to be 14,700 acres, up 500 acres from yesterday, but remains at 10% containment. Evacuations for the cities of Coleville and Walker were lifted on 9/1 and HWY 395 is back open. However, the fire is still active on the southern and western fronts creating heavy smoke that may impact fire behavior. We expect more high fire activity over the next several days due to the hot and dry weather conditions.

Smoke: Heavy smoke impacts were seen overnight and into Wednesday morning in Antelope Valley and the 395 corridor the smoke lifted by late afternoon and into the evening. We expect the inversion to break earlier today which will help lift some smoke out of the 395 corridor. We expect similar fire and smoke behavior over the next several days with Antelope Valley seeing the most smoke impacts; Woodfords and Ranchos are likely to see less severe impacts. Carson City may see some smoke from the Slink Fire but it is also being influenced by regional smoke from other fires in California

EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER

Action: Under authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), as amended, and pursuant to 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR 9268.3, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that the public lands described below are closed to all forms of public access. This closure is necessary to protect public land visitors from risks associated with active wildland fire and ongoing and planned fire suppression, suppression repair, emergency stabilization, and burned area rehabilitation activities. This closure is also needed to protect wildland firefighters from activities that could interfere with fire suppression efforts.

Affected Area: This closure applies to public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office located within and adjacent to the Slink Fire. The closure area includes public lands in Mono County, California located west of U.S. Highway 395 from the common boundary with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest near Walker, north to State Highway 89 near Topaz. The affected area is commonly known as the western slope of Antelope Valley, and the entirety of Little Antelope Valley and Slinkard Valley.

Prohibitions: The public must not enter the closure area. All uses within the closure area are prohibited. Exceptions to these prohibitions are noted below under Supplemental Information.

Dates: This closure is effective at 12:01 PM on Thursday, September 3, 2020, and will remain in effect until such time as conditions allow for safe use of the public lands.

Supplemental Information: The following persons are exempt from the provisions of this Order:

1. Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized medical, rescue or firefighting force engaged in fire, emergency, or law enforcement activities, or public utility employees engaged in emergency repairs.

2. BLM employees, contractors, or agents engaged in official duties.

3. Individuals operating within the scope of their official and legitimate governmental duties.

4. Parties who carry written approval signed by the BLM Authorized Officer allowing access to the described public lands.

Penalties: Any person who violates this may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Vehicles found in violation of this order may be removed.

Effective: This Order is effective at 12:01 PM on Thursday, September 3, 2020.

Bridgeport, CA. September 3, 2020– The Slink Fire continues to have active surface fire behavior due to hotter, drier weather conditions and available fuel. This fire is burning west of Antelope Valley and into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. Firefighters will use tactics to fully suppress the fire.

A Closure Order has been put in place by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor for the Slink Fire. The Order can be found by going to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/htnf/alerts-notices/?aid=61374. We ask the public to please stay out of the area for their safety as well as the safety of the fire personnel.

Objectives for today include: Minimize fire spread to the east of Highway 395 and keep fire south of Highway 89.  Fire personnel continue to make progress on the southern end of the fire. The west side of the fire remains active and additional crews will be working in the area today. Personnel will abide by wilderness guidelines using minimum impact techniques for wilderness when in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.

Crews will be working in the Lost Cannon Creek area today to keep the fire from continuing south towards the Mountain Warfare Training Center. Fire management is working closely with the Marine Corps to protect that area.

Weather conditions for today will be hot and dry and winds are expected in the afternoon on the fire area. The area will continue to experience low humidity which will provide conditions for erratic fire behavior. These conditions are expected through the weekend.

In addition to the Slink Fire, multiple other fires in California have contributed to the dense smoke and poor air quality in the area. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to view updated smoke impacts.

Command of the fire transitioned this morning to a Type 2 Interagency Incident Management Team, Chadwick’s Great Basin Team 6. Incident Management Teams provide support to the local unit by taking operational command of the fire, as well as providing several other functional areas including planning, logistics, finance, information, and communications. The team would like to thank Sierra Front Team 2 for their hard work and dedication.

Fire Information:

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7105/

• Facebook: @HumboldtToiyabeNF #SlinkFire

• Twitter: @HumboldtToiyabe #SlinkFire

• Fire Information Line: 775-430-5103

• 2020.slink@firenet.gov

Bridgeport, CA. September 2nd, 2020– The Slink Fire behavior today was moderate, though the south end saw small, terrain driven runs. The fire is 14,200 acres and 10% contained. Sierra Front Team 2 (Fraser) will be transitioning to Great Basin Team 6 (Chadwick), tomorrow at 6 a.m.

Firefighters expect the fire to remain active overnight into tomorrow as fuel moisture levels are incredibly low and predicted increased air ventilation may significantly influence fire behavior. The fire continues to move south in the Lost Cannon Creek drainage and west to the Iceberg Wilderness. One priority is to prevent the fire spread to the south and the Marine Warfare Training Center. Fire management is working closely with the Marine Corps to protect the area.

Firefighters will continue to construct handline to work to increase containment tomorrow. Steep, rugged terrain is a factor, particularly on the western flank of the fire. They are also using minimal impact suppression tactics within the wilderness boundaries.

Aircraft use was limited today due to poor visibility from the smoke from multiple California wildfires. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to view updated smoke impacts.

No evacuations are currently in place and Highway 395 is open. However, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has closed all National Forest System lands in the fire area to the public, effective this evening. The closure is for public safety due to activity from the Slink Fire. Please avoid the fire area and visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/map/7105/0/104389 to view the map of the closure.

In addition to the Slink Fire, multiple other fires in California have contributed to the dense smoke and poor air quality in the area. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to view updated smoke impacts.

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands described in this Order, within the exterior boundaries of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Bridgeport Ranger District beginning September 2, 2020 at 19:00 p.m. and continuing until October 31, 2020, or until rescinded, whichever comes first.

Bridgeport, CA. September 2nd, 2020– The Slink Fire behavior moderated somewhat yesterday and hard work by firefighters has increased the containment to 10%. An infrared flight last night mapped the fire at 14,200 acres.

Yesterday was a very productive day for firefighters, especially with the clearer air allowing for steady air operations throughout the entire operational shift. All evacuations in the towns of Walker and Coleville have been lifted and Highway 395 was opened yesterday evening. More resources arrived on the fire and will be assisting with suppression efforts today.

Today, crews will continue constructing handline and reinforce retardant line that was put in yesterday by airtankers. The west side of the fire remains active, and firefighters will continue to establish handline while abiding by wilderness guidelines. The fire also continues to move south in the Lost Cannon Creek drainage. Another main priority is the Mountain Warfare Training Center and fire management is working closely with the Marine Corps to protect that area.

The Sierra Front Team 2 (Fraser) will be transitioning to Great Basin Team 6 (Chadwick), tomorrow at 6 a.m.

Weather conditions can greatly affect fire behavior so they are closely monitored by fire managers and firefighters. Overnight humidities will continue to be poor and very hot and dry temperatures will remain through the weekend.

In addition to the Slink Fire, multiple other fires in California have contributed to the dense smoke and poor air quality in the area. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to view updated smoke impacts.

Bridgeport, CA. September 1st, 2020– The Slink Fire behavior moderated today and hard work by firefighters has increased the containment to 10%. All evacuations in the towns of Walker and Coleville have been lifted and Highway 395 is now open to traffic.

The fire is now 11,000 acres. Air operations have been a challenge for the Slink Fire due to dense smoke creating poor visibility in the last few days. Today, however, clearer air gave aircraft the opportunity to engage in firefighting efforts for the entire operational shift. Several retardant drops were made by heavy airtankers, single engine airtankers and very large airtankers, also known as VLATS. A VLAT is a converted passenger jetliner that can carry up to 12,000 gallons of fire retardant. The combination of fixed wing retardant drops and helicopter water drops greatly supported firefighters on the eastern and southern portions of the fire.

Because of the proximity to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, the Marine Corps personnel have offered assistance to the fire. They are being utilized in several ways to support the fire camp and logistical needs.

 “The cooperation between the Marine Corps and the Incident Management team has been outstanding. They have been a valuable asset and we greatly appreciate their help. When we have needed anything, we didn’t even have to ask, they were already doing it,” said Scott Fraser, Sierra Front Team 2 Incident Commander.

A type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will be taking over the fire in the next few days.

Bridgeport, CA. September 1st, 2020– The Slink Fire, influenced by dry fuels, topography and winds, made a significant run towards the towns of Walker and Coleville yesterday afternoon. Fire behavior moderated somewhat overnight but continued to grow and evacuations and road closures all remain in effect. The fire is currently estimated at 8,300 acres and 5% contained.

Today, firefighters will continue their work, going directly along the fire’s edge wherever possible to work to increase containment and slow progression of the fire. Structure protection will continue to take place should the need arise. Because of the predicted weather and fuel conditions, the fire has the potential to exhibit similar behavior as was seen yesterday. Fire officials would like to urge the public and area residents to stay up to date with current fire conditions and be prepared in case the fire makes another run today. Visit https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/ready-set-go/ for evacuation checklists and information on how to be prepared.

Additional resources have been ordered, however, due to significant fire activity in the state and across the nation, fire resources are in high demand and not always readily available. A type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will be arriving in the next day.

Air operations have been a challenge for the Slink Fire due to dense smoke. In addition to the Slink Fire, multiple other fires in California have contributed to the dense smoke and poor air quality in the area. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to view updated smoke impacts.