Springville Pier Fire triples in size to 4,655 acres

The Pier Fire burning in the Tule River Canyon tripled overnight to 4,655 acres, according to CalFire.

The fire is burning above Springville in Tulare County. Firefighters say most of the growth of the blaze was south of Highway 190 towards Black Moutain and the Tule River Indian Reservation. The fire is nearing the Black Mountain Grove of giant sequoias near Solo Peak. Firefighters are hampered by access to the blaze in that area by lack of roads, heavy underbrush, and steep slopes. In addition, air support is problematic because of smoke in the Tule River Canyon.

Highway 190 is closed between Balch Park above Springville and Fox Road along the Western Divide Highway.

The communities are under a mandatory evacuation: Pierpoint Springs, Wishon, Doyle Springs, Alpine, Sequoia Crest, Cedar Slop and Camp Nelson. Ponderosa is under a voluntary evacuation. The evacuation center is Porterville College Student Conference Center in Porterville at 100 East College Avenue. For more information call 1-800-733-2777.

This story was originally published August 30, 2017 at 7:58 AM with the headline "Springville Pier Fire triples in size to 4,655 acres."