Lion Wildfire Update

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Heavy smoke hampering Kern River Valley air quality and those with respiratory problems for unforeseeable future.

News Release from Forest Service:
Lion Wildfire Update, Public Meeting Planned In Kernville

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST The Lion Fire has grown to approximately 5,500 acres. The fire showed several days of significant growth a few days ago, including 1,900 acres on July 19. However, fire growth and activity has diminished in the last two days, growing only 105 acres on July 21.

Firefighters are actively working to protect private property and cabins near the fire, including creating better defensible space around cabins, placing hose and firelines near these structures, and completing small burnout operations to develop a perimeter around these areas. Firefighters are looking for opportunities to ignite at higher elevation, either aerially or on the ground, to promote backing fire. This will help encourage desired fire behavior in an area that has not seen fire in over 90 years. Weather conditions and expected fire behavior will dictate this action. Portions of the Golden Trout Wilderness are closed for safety concerns in these areas.

The Lion Wildfire response is achieving Region 5 Leadership Intent as stated in a March 2011 Forest Service report. Fire response is founded on a commitment to land and resource management that is based on principles of ecological restoration and dedicated to make land and water ecosystems more sustainable, more resilient, and healthier under current and future conditions. The full report can be found on the Forest Service Region 5 website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/EcologicalRestoration/ .

“Those aspects of fire that are unfavorable, such as smoke, using the strategies such as burning out on this fire, are outweighed by immediate benefits of firefighter and public safety, as well as future ecological restoration benefits,” stated Western Divide District Ranger Priscilla Summers. “It is fortunate that this wildfire occurred during a wet year rather than a drought year, when much more smoke and damage to resources would result.”

A public meeting is planned for Tuesday, July 26 at 6:30 pm in Kernville at the Odd Fellows Hall at 50 Tobias Street. District Rangers, Incident Commanders, and representatives from the Eastern Kern APCD and Kern County Public Health will be in attendance to answer questions about the current fire situation, future strategy for the Lion Fire, and to address concerns about smoke impacts.

Fire information lines are established at Kernville #760-379-5646 ext. 515, or Springville #559-539-2607 ext. 214.