Evacuations ordered near Rough fire
The Rough fire grew overnight by nearly 10,000 acres, injuring a firefighter and causing the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office on Monday to order mandatory evacuations in areas near Dunlap and Crabtree.
Forest service officials said a firefighter was burned Monday morning while working as part of a night shift crew in the Converse Basin, looking for spot fires along Hoist Ridge. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where he remains in stable condition.
The fire stood at 86,000 acres on Sunday. By Monday morning, the U.S. Forest Service reported it was at 95,183 acres. It is 31 percent contained.
Because of the changing nature of the fire, officials are evacuating people north of the intersection of Highway 180 and Millwood Road in Dunlap, specifically an area bounded by U.S. Forest Service Road 12S01 and Sampson Flat Road to the south and Crabtree to the north; and U.S. Forest Service Road and 12S19 to the west and Cherry Gap (U.S. Forest Service Road 13S03 and Highway 180) to the east.
There is no timetable for when the evacuations might be lifted.
Most of the burn is in the Sierra National Forest, where the fire started July 31 with a lightning strike 5 miles north of Hume Lake in the Kings River Drainage. However, about 37,000 acres are on fire in the Sequoia National Forest, and more than 2,000 acres are burning in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park.
On Sunday, firefighters conducted a burnout along Hoist Ridge in the Converse Basin, carrying the fire down to within a few hundred feet of the Kings River. Consistent wind and prior preparation made the operation a success. Forest service officials say the containment lines going east along Highway 180 look good.
The fire stretches north of Cedar Grove, said Rough fire spokesman Andy Isolano. But it is heading northeast, away from the Kings River. Fire crews are trying to steer it up into the granite canyon.
Isolano said the fire has dipped into the canyon, which runs roughly from Boyden Cavern to Cedar Grove, a few times in the past week. At one point, it burned down one side of the canyon and back up the other, he said.
“But it’s all low brush, lots of granite, so nothing of real consequence,” he said.
The combination of burn operations and increased fire activity on the east side resulted in the increase in acreage, as well as a few spot fires that broke out. Firefighters attacked the spots Sunday and continued to monitor them through the night.
As conditions allowed on Monday, helicopters and firefighters continued to strengthen the line along Hoist Ridge and extend it down to the Kings River. Crews will strengthen the line around the perimeter of the fire and protect structures in Cedar Grove, although the fire is 1.5 miles away.
On the north end, stable weather is allowing forces to control the fire. But hotter, drier weather and increased winds predicted for the days ahead might challenge those operations.
On the northwest side, control lines are being cleaned up and monitored. Gear and fire hoses are being pulled off the line if not needed.
Isolano said the forest service has received many questions about smoke. When the winds die down, it allows smoke to leave the canyon and drift into the Valley as the day heats up.
Hazy conditions observed in north Fresno can likely be attributed to the Rough fire, Isolano said.
“It’s not that there’s more fire,” he said. “It’s just that the conditions are letting the smoke out.”
Andrea Castillo: 559-441-6279, @andreamcastillo
Red Cross shelter
The American Red Cross of the Central Valley opened a shelter for residents facing new evacuations from the Rough fire.
Where: Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave.
What: Red Cross volunteers will provide lodging, meals, hygiene kits and more for the evacuated families. The Central California Animal Disaster Team will be on scene to care for pets.
This story was originally published September 7, 2015 at 1:18 PM with the headline "Evacuations ordered near Rough fire."