Vegetation fire sparks up near Shaver Lake in Fresno County mountains
Sierra National Forest firefighters were called to the scene of a vegetation fire south of Shaver Lake in eastern Fresno County late Tuesday afternoon.
The Blue Fire, located at Blue Canyon, started around 4:30 p.m. and had burned 125 acres with no containment as of 10:45 p.m., Sierra National Forest spokesperson Alex Olow said.
UPDATE: Shaver Lake not under threat, Forest Service says; evacuations in place
SNF Fire initially reported the fire had a moderate rate of spread, burning single trees and groups along with dead and down debris. The fire is burning in toward the 2020 Creek Fire burn area, and toward the ridge line at Soaproot Saddle where there has been extensive hazard fuel reduction treatments creating a fuel break, fire officials said.
SNF said initial projections were optimistic as the leading edge was heading towards a Creek Fire scar, but shifting winds Tuesday night changed and contributed to it going to Type 3 incident. There are over 100 personnel currently assigned, and orders are in to double that.
One structure is threatened, officials said, and evacuations is for Road 10S02 (Peterson Mill) to Nutmeg Saddle.
The full suppression response by USFS and Cal Fire includes 25 fire trucks, one hotshot crew, six hand crews, two water tenders, six dozers, two helicopters (Type 1 and 2, don’t fly at night), four air tankers (do not fly at night) and one air attack.
SNF Fire said additional resources have been ordered to include three strike teams of fire trucks and three Type 1 hand crews.
It is unknown what caused the fire, though dry thunderstorms developed in the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday afternoon.
This story was originally published June 29, 2021 at 8:43 PM.
