Special Statement: Yesterday, the Creek Fire in Sierra National Forest grew 36,000 acres and inundated the area with smoke - much of that smoke stayed aloft and dispersed, but impacts were still seen throughout the area, especially south of the Slink Fire.

Fire: The Slink Fire is now at 20,800 acres with containment up to 21%. The smoke from the Creek Fire halted aerial operations yesterday evening and are waiting for it to lift later this afternoon, which will also increase fire activity. Monday is expected to have northwesterly flow which could increase growth so crews are working to contain the south and northwest perimeter where the fire is most active.

Smoke: Smoke impacts from the both the Slink Fire and Creek Fire could be seen overhead at Woodfords and Ranchos yesterday, but most of the smoke stayed aloft - Carson City also stayed in Moderate without severely impacted by smoke. Yerington is seeing smoke impacts into Unhealthy this morning - it should lift this afternoon and NW winds later today may keep smoke out of Mason Valley tonight. Smoke did severely impact areas south of the Slink Fire - Bridgeport and Lee Vining were hit hard, with Lee Vining going into Hazardous air quality. Bridgeport is currently Unhealthy and trending down and expected to be USG for the day - please take precautions to protect yourself and reduce your exposure to smoke.

Bridgeport, CA. September 6, 2020– Today on the Slink Fire, moderate fire behavior was predominant in the morning as smoke settled in the valley, causing low visibility in the area, and limited the ability to conduct aviation missions for the day. When this smoke shifted in the afternoon, with fire spread heavily influenced by fuels and terrain, we began to see increased fire behavior. Fire spread was active in concentrated timber stands where winds aligned with slopes. As with all wildfires, the Incident Management Team is using a range of firefighting tactics to suppress the fire. Firefighters and engines are securing the line on the eastern and southern edge of the fire to ensure that the communities of Coleville and Walker, as well as the State Highway Corridors, are secure. In addition, crews continued to secure the southern perimeter of the fire to reduce the impact to the Marine Corps Training Area.

The Carson–Iceberg Wilderness is a federal wilderness that encompasses 160,000 acres and was designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984. This wilderness protects an area of High Sierra landscape with elevations from 4,800 feet to 11,462 feet, along the Sierra Mountains. The Humboldt-Toiyable National Forest and the Stanislaus National Forest manage this area. The wilderness supports large herds of mule deer and there is also good habitat for black bear. Another important species supported by both the Carson River and the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is the Paiute Cutthroat Trout.  This trout is only native to Silver Spring Creek, which is a tributary of the Carson River’s east fork.  In keeping with one of the Slink Fire’s objectives, in coordination with Resource Advisors, extreme care is being taken to avoid all unnecessary disruptions to these critical habitats.  

An expanded closure order has been put in place by the US Forest Service for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest due to the changing conditions of the Slink Fire.  To view the updated closure order, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/.  The previous closures, which may still be seen on the forest’s website, are superseded by the orders found on InciWeb.  The website will soon be updated as well.  Heenan Lake closures remain in place.  Again, we ask the public to remain out of these closure areas for their safety, as well as the safety of fire personnel. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a Closure Order for the fire area, for information please go to: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts.

A Smoke Outlook is now being reported daily. The report will be posted to  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7105. Please utilize this report, smoke can be hazardous for children and people with breathing difficulties. 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: 775-430-510

Order Number 04-17-20-13

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on all

Bridgeport, CA. September 5, 2020–Temperatures are expected to be extremely hot and dry today with ridgetop winds out of the east through the morning and expecting the winds to shift in the later afternoon out of the west. The fire is located in extremely steep terrain which can cause the wind to flow in various directions and affect the fire behavior. Heenan Lake is closed to the public.

Yesterday, fire personnel experienced extreme fire behavior with crowning and spotting. The fire continued to spread to the north and west. Additional resources were deployed to these areas. Fire managers expect the fire to continue to make uphill runs in the Silver King Creek drainage. The west side of the fire burned past Mineral Mountain towards the south. The northwest side of the fire is approaching the east fork of the Caron River. Firefighters are working to improve lines in the southern part of the fire to minimize effects to the Marine Corps Training Center and the Incident Management Team is working closely with the Marine Corps on scouting the training grounds south of the fire for potential contingency lines.

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, 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. Please utilize this report, smoke can be hazardous for children and people with breathing difficulties.

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: 775-430-5103

Bridgeport, CA. September 4, 2020– The Slink Fire is burning in Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon-Juniper and mixed conifer. The fire is located in extremely steep terrain which can cause the wind to flow in various directions and affect the fire behavior. Temperatures are extremely hot and dry and a dry cold front is expected to continue in the area.

Today, fire personnel experienced extreme fire behavior with crowning and spotting. The fire continues to spread to the north and south of the fire and additional resources are being deployed to the area. The fire is burning in the Silver King Creek drainage. Firefighters are working to improve lines in the southern part of the fire to minimize effects to the Marine Corps Training Center and the Incident Management Team is working closely with the Marine Corps.

There are currently eleven helicopters assigned to the fire. Helicopters are used in a variety of ways:

Deliver firefighters, cargo and food to areas closer to the fire. They also support firefighters with bucket drops of water used to cool down the fire. There are three types of helicopters, Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Type 1 helicopters are the largest used on fires, carrying 700 to 2,800 gallons. Type 2 can carry 800 to 900 gallons and a Type 3 can carry up to 100 gallons. They are an important asset in firefighting efforts.

 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, 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.

Special Statement The Slink Fire is located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Please go to Inciweb for the most up-to-date fire information (link below). An additional monitoring site will likely be added at Bridgeport, and another will be added north of the fire. Fire: The Slink Fire grew 1,500 acres yesterday and is now at 16,200 acres - containment remains at 10%. The fire remains active further west and south of the fire perimeter, moving further into wilderness with more fuels, so smoke production is expected to increase. Hot, dry conditions continue through the weekend so additional fire growth is likely over the next several days. Smoke: Much of the smoke from the active fire activity yesterday stayed aloft and the lingering smoke lifted out of Antelope Valley later in the day. This morning, smoke is still keeping the affected areas in the Moderate to USG range with periods of Unhealthy like we saw yesterday. Tonight, downslope winds could draw down the smoke into valley floor impacting areas north of the fire. We continue to expect similar fire and smoke behavior into Labor Day weekend. Like yesterday, Carson City may see some smoke from the Slink Fire.

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