Rough fire prompts expanded evacuation warnings

The roster of areas told to be ready to evacuate because of the Rough fire grew Tuesday night, with evacuation warnings issued for the Grant Grove area and the communities of Pinehurst, Miramonte and Dunlap.

Meanwhile, officials in charge of battling the Rough fire announced they would hold a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Dunlap Elementary School gym.

The National Park Service issued the evacuation warning Tuesday evening for park employees, concession staff and visitors to the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, as well as residents of Wilsonia.

About the same time, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office issued its own evacuation warning for residents of Pinehurst, Miramonte and Dunlap.

A park service official said there is no immediate threat to the Grant Grove area, but the Rough fire’s behavior over the last few days raised concerns that the fire could make a significant move toward that area.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office expanded its area for mandatory evacuation notices at Summit Meadow, Goins Ranch, and Marvin Pass in Fresno County.

Evacuation orders in the areas of Hume Lake, Kings Canyon Lodge and Kennedy Meadows still remain in effect, officials said.

Highway 180 remains open to drivers as of Tuesday evening.

The National Park Service is working with the sheriff’s departments of Fresno and Tulare counties to provide the warning notifications.

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Rough fire prompts expanded evacuation warnings."