Fire: Containment on the Springs Fire grew to 70%, with 122 acres burned yesterday (4840 total acres through yesterday). Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed and is dependent on weather conditions. Smoke seen today can be attributed to smoldering fuels and daily ignitions required to secure perimeter control lines when conditions permit. Any ignitions today during daylight will be minimal in size due to forecast winds, thunderstorms and low humidity.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the “good” (green) range with the exception of the Devil’s Postpile AQ monitor that registered into the ”moderate” (yellow), the result of local emission sources. The Yosemite AQ monitor, like Devil’s Postpile, is reading moderate AQ levels from local sources. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move northeast to east for the majority of the day and into the late evening. Later today, smoke and haze will move into the Bishop area. Mixing heights will remain shallow until early afternoon resulting in morning smoke along California Highway 120 east, east of US Highway 395.

Fire: Containment on the Springs fire, a lighting-ignited wildfire, remains at 23%, and smoke production is on the decline as the warming trend continues and the windows favorable to tactical firing operations narrow. Most of the smoke production today and tomorrow will likely occur in the evening and overnight.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors except for Benton again reported overall (24 hour AQI) values in the good (green) range under southwest winds. Tactical firing of the heavier fuels on the north end of the fire area likely contributed to the plume that affected Benton. Today, with lower smoke production and a more southerly wind direction, all sites are likely to return to the good range. More good air quality at all sites is expected for tomorrow as emissions further subside.

Fire: Containment on the Springs remained at 45%, with 97 acres burned yesterday (3431 total acres burned through yesterday’s ICS-209). Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed. Smoke production today will likely be from residual burn down of areas already ignited Monday night. Fire crews are expecting erratic winds and possible thunderstorms this afternoon so will be focused on holding firelines throughout the day. Very little interior igniting can be expected.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the good (green) range. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move northwest causing light late morning - early afternoon smoke in the Lee Vining area. This smoke should dissipate by early afternoon, resulting in clear conditions with light haze. Limited smoke impacts are expected in the Owens Valley region south of the fire. Bishop, Mammoth, June, Benton (Light haze expected through the day and evening) Lee Vining (Expect periods of light smoke in the morning, late afternoon haze) Devil/Yosemite (Little to no effect from this fire; potential haze aloft)

Fire: Containment on the Springs Fire grew to 46%, with 134 acres burned yesterday (3538 total acres burned through yesterday’s ICS-209). Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed. Smoke today will likely be from residual burn down of areas ignited during Tuesday night, combined with ignitions planned for this morning, tonight and tomorrow. Forecast thunderstorms may delay ignitions today as high winds and lightning are expected.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the good (green) range. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move north-northeast over Lake Mono and then dispersing to the northeast. This smoke will shift to the east-southeast by late afternoon-early evening. Limited smoke impacts are expected in the Benton area southeast of the fire. Light haze will be evident in Owens Valley.

Fire: Containment on the Springs Fire grew to 48%, with 167 acres burned yesterday (3673 total acres burned through yesterday’s ICS-209). Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed. Smoke today will likely be from residual burn down of areas ignited to further secure the fire perimeter Wednesday night. Ignitions are planned for this morning and this evening as conditions permit.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the good (green) range. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move north-northeast for the majority of the day and into the late evening. In the Owens Valley today, some monitors will move into the “moderate” range for short periods this morning and early afternoon otherwise, light haze can be anticipated. After midnight and into early Friday morning light smoke is forecast to move east-southeast toward Benton then down the east side of Owens Valley.

Fire: Containment on the Springs Fire grew to 50%, with 148 acres burned yesterday (3992 total acres burned through yesterday’s ICS-209). Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed. Smoke today will likely be from residual burn down of areas ignited to further secure the fire perimeter Thursday night. Ignitions are planned for this morning and this evening as conditions permit.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the good (green) range with the exception of the Benton AQ monitor which recorded a moderate (yellow) grade. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move north-northeast for the majority of the day and into the late evening. In the Owens Valley today, some monitors may move into the “moderate” range for short periods this morning and early afternoon otherwise, light haze can be anticipated. After midnight and into early Friday morning light smoke is forecast to move east-southeast toward Benton then down the east side of Owens Valley.

Fire: Containment on the Springs Fire grew to 68%, with 376 acres burned yesterday (4718 total acres through yesterday). Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed and is dependent on weather conditions. Smoke seen today can be attributed to overnight smoldering fuels and daily ignitions as conditions permit. No ignitions are planned for today during daylight hours as forecast winds and low humidity will result in undesirable fire behavior.

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the “good” (green) range with the exception of the Devil’s Postpile AQ monitor that registered into the ”moderate” (yellow). Mammoth, Lee Vining, and Bishop AQ monitors did exceed the “good”(green) range for brief periods in the morning and early afternoon but later returned to “good” with the onset of afternoon winds. These same communities registered a 24 hour average of “good” for the last day of August. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move northeast to east for the majority of the day and into the late evening. Mixing heights will remain shallow until early afternoon pushing smoke along California 120 east. Lee Vining and Benton communities may see some smoke and haze today.

Transportation Safety: Smoke may cause visibility to be limited along California 120 near or east of the fire today through the early afternoon. Please be advised to use caution when driving or recreating along or near this road.

Fire: Containment on the Springs Fire grew to 65%, with 358 acres burned yesterday (4342 total acres through yesterday. Moderate fire behavior is continuing to be observed dependent on weather conditions. Smoke seen today can be attributed to overnight smoldering fuels and current daily ignitions (weather permitting).

Smoke: Yesterday, all monitors (24 hour AQI) values remained in the good (green) range. Benton and Lee Vining AQ monitors bumped briefly into the moderate (yellow) but then returned to the good range for the 24 hour average. Residual smoke from the previous evening’s tactical firing operation will move north-northeast for the majority of the day and into the late evening. In the Owens Valley today, some areas may see “moderate” amounts of smoke for short periods this morning and early afternoon otherwise, light haze can be anticipated. After midnight and into early Sunday morning light smoke is forecast to move east-southeast toward Benton then down the east side of Owens Valley.

Springs Fire managers presented a community meeting to provide information and explain strategies being employed to return fire to its natural role and frequency in this fire adapted forest landscape.

Speakers used photos projected onto the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center theater screen to help participants visualize conditions and understand goals fire managers are working toward. Topics included: fire management objectives, fire history, fire operations, smoke conditions and management, and natural and historic resource protections. After the presentations, fire managers responded to questions from the audience. The following is a synopsis of those questions and their answers:

Is it true you could have put the fire out when it started? Why didn’t you? Yes, we could have put it out. There were eight starts from this lightning storm in late July. Inyo National Forest leadership decided to employ a confine and contain strategy and to manage for multiple objectives on four of the fires. By using this strategy now, when weather, personnel resources, and the wet winter conditions are optimal, we are decreasing the potential for large high intensity fires in this area in the future.

What fuels are burning? This question was answered using images of the fuels (needles and cones on the ground, live lodgepole and Jeffrey pine with low dead branches, shrubs, etc) and low/moderate intensity fire. The speaker described how this forest is adapted to a fire return interval of 7-25 years.

How will you deal with losing resources if we get new fire starts? The Inyo National Forest has augmented staffing beyond the resources assigned to the Springs Fire. The Forest Service uses a planning level system, with 1 being low – 5 being high. For example, if there are multiple fires and the resource need is high then the planning level is high. Currently we are in planning level 2 which means we have access to needed resources.

Do we have plans in effect if weather changes, e.g. wind shifts, rain? Yes, one of the first priority’s for this fire was to secure the east perimeter. Local wind patterns are typically out of west, so securing the east flank ensures we have a strong anchor point to work from. There is also an extensive road system that can be used to slow or stop the fire as needed.

What is type of funding being used? The fire was started by lighting, so the funding is suppression funds.

How are we dealing with air quality and NEPA? A representative from the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District offered to respond to a portion of this question. She described the Smoke Management Plan submitted to the Air Pollution Control District by the Forest, and referred to the daily smoke production and activity monitoring requirement. Another presenter responded to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) question, helping the audience understand that the Forest Service performs analysis of possible effects of the fire to natural, cultural, and social conditions and makes strategic and tactical fire management decisions based on that analysis.

Was there an international group here? Yes, the Springs Fire welcomed international visitors learning about the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS was initially developed by the Forest Service to address problems of inter-agency responses to wildfires. It has evolved into national and worldwide use for all-hazards situations. The Forest Service brought them to visit this fire to learn the components of ICS. The speaker stated this visit is diplomacy through education.