Creek Fire update: Snow helps crews hold line as full containment target moves to Nov. 30
A weak weather system made its way over the Creek Fire on Friday night, dropping about an inch of snow, according to Saturday’s update from the U.S. Forest Service.
Full containment, which had been Nov. 15, was pushed back to Nov. 30 late Friday night.
The Creek Fire, which began Sept. 4, has remained at 379,802 acres and 70% containment since Nov. 11. There has been no growth in the northern and northeast edges of the fire for the past three days, Creek Fire spokeswoman Adrienne Freeman said.
The California Interagency Incident Management Team 10 began to manage the fire on Friday. A team from out of state, the Alaska Incident Management Team, had been in command previously.
“Crews continue to work on suppression repair, focusing efforts on Grizzly Road, Central Camp Road, Huntington, and Shaver Lakes, and along Dinkey Creek Road,” officials said in the update.
Highway 168 was open, officials said, but the Sierra National Forest remained closed to help protect firefighters and equipment as crews worked along roadways and burned areas to fell and remove hazard trees, among other suppression efforts.
“Recent precipitation has created icy conditions along roads, and extra traffic is a hazard to firefighters,” officials said.
Central Camp Road remained closed to visitors, residents, and permit holders from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. as crews worked to fell trees in the area.
Temperatures were expected to be warm and dry on Saturday, and another weather system is expected over the Creek Fire area around Wednesday, officials said.
Cal Fire personnel and a Fresno-Kings Unit burned brush Saturday along highway 168 between Shaver Lake Village and Shaver Point.
The Sierra National Forest closure will remain in effect through Nov. 24.
On Saturday, there were a total of 428 firefighters battling the blaze.
The fire has destroyed a total of 853 structures, with another 64 damaged. As of Saturday, a total of 29 firefighters had been injured, and the fire remained under investigation.
Meanwhile, the SQF Complex fire has burned 174,178 acres and is 80% contained. Full containment is still expected by Nov. 20.
The California Interagency Incident Management Team 13 is preparing to departed the fire on Saturday, and the Sequoia National Forest took over command operations.
This story was originally published November 14, 2020 at 9:40 AM.
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