Alder Fire and Mountaineer Fire

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Alder Fire and Mountaineer Fire Update – October 16, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Alder Fire

The Alder Fire, is located about 5 miles north of Camp Nelson on the Western Divide Ranger District in Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest. It has slowly and steadily grown since it was discovered October 4th. A reconnaissance flight will continue to check it daily. It is estimated to be about 18 acres in size. It is burning fuels on the ground, and actively burned throughout the day, backing down the slope. The fire burned more actively today than is has in past days.

A confine and contain suppression strategy is being used. The fire is inaccessible on foot. Firefighters have been constructing fire line where they could get to safely, and improving fire lines that were created during last summer's Pier Fire. Roads, trails, and fire lines will be utilized to confine and contain the Alder Fire where possible. The fire is located north of Alder Creek in an area of extensive tree mortality. It is burning in a dense timber stand with heavy fuels on the ground and multiple snags overhead, which creates a safety concern for fire personnel.

The weather forecast calls for a dry northeasterly flow aloft to prevail over the fire area through Friday at least, with little change in temperatures and relative humidity. Winds will generally be light and terrain driven.

Fire officials are concerned about the fire spreading southward, where it would move closer to the communities of Doyle Springs and Sequoia Crest. “A lot of preparation work was accomplished to protect those communities last summer during the Pier Fire,” stated District Ranger Eric La Price. “Firefighters have several options to stop it if the Alder Fire were to spread in that direction.” Crews are establishing and improving fire lines to protect the communities of Doyle Springs and Sequoia Crest.

Smoke will become more visible as the fire grows, and is expected to increase over the next week.

Approximately 100 personnel are assigned to the Alder fire, including 3 crews, 5 engines, 2 helicopters, 4 fallers, and 3 patrols. A night shift with 2 engines is also working on the Alder Fire.

The Fox Farm Road (FS20S03) is closed to the public to allow safer access for fire personnel. Trails 30E14, 31E18, and 31E21, and 31E14 near the Alder fire are closed to keep the public from walking into the fire’s path. An area closure is in the process of being established for the area in the vicinity of the Alder Fire.

Mountaineer Fire

The Mountaineer Fire is about one and a half miles east of the Alder Fire. It is located north of Summit Trailhead, in the Golden Trout Wilderness, in Western Divide Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest. The cause of the Mountaineer Fire is under investigation.

A reconnaissance flight will continue to check the fire daily. It is estimated to be one acre in size. The fire is inaccessible on foot. No structures or improvements are threatened, and a confine-contain suppression strategy is being used. The Mountaineer Fire is burning in timber, with heavy fuels lying on the ground.

Two crews are working on reopening and improving existing fire lines and trails on the Mountaineer Fire.

The Mountaineer Fire produced minimal smoke today, with smoldering and creeping fire behavior.

An area closure is in the process of being established for the roads and trails surrounding Summit Trailhead and the Mountaineer Fire on the Western Divide Ranger District.

For additional information, please call the Western Divide Ranger District (559) 539-2607, extension 2292.