Inyo National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Contacts: Nancy Upham (760) 873-2427, Mary Loan (760) 873-2580

Bishop, CA (May 14, 2008)...Inyo National Forest fire management officials report that the Honeybee Fire, sparked by lightning on May 6th and being managed as a wildland fire use fire, is continuing to grow according to resource objectives.

The fire, burning in timber and brush in the Sierra Nevada southwest of Olancha, had reached 185 acres when mapped on Monday, May 12th, and was burning with low to moderate activity.

On Tuesday, May 13th, the fire was affected by some stronger north winds, which caused the fire to grow much faster.  The fire was estimated to have grown by an additional 125 acres in size, making a total of approximately 300 acres.

The fire is burning in the area between Haiwee Pass and Olancha Pass, towards the south and west.  It has reached the South Fork of the Kern River, and is expected to continue growing, burning onto the Sequoia National Forest.  Fire management officials from the Inyo National Forest are working closely with fire management from the Sequoia National Forest in the monitoring of the Honeybee Fire to ensure that it continues to meet resource objectives as it burns.

A hand crew, specially trained in wildland fire use, is assigned to the fire and is camping out in the vicinity of the fire, providing on-the-ground observations and monitoring of weather conditions and fire spread predictions.  A helicopter is also assigned to the fire and will be used for reconnaissance flights as necessary.

With the north winds, smoke from the Honeybee Fire is traveling down-canyon towards Kennedy Meadows and is expected to have some impact on the area.  As winds shift in direction, this impact will be lessened.  Smoke may also travel to Kennedy Meadows in the evenings as it gathers at lower elevations down-canyon from the fire.  However, fire officials have a smoke monitoring device in the Kennedy Meadows area and are closely watching the effects of the smoke in the area.  If smoke becomes too intense, appropriate management actions will be taken.

Smoke may continue to be visible along Highway 395 and as far away as Ridgecrest, Big Pine and Kennedy Meadows.

For more information, please contact Kenny Gaynor at 873-2541.