Inyo National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Contacts: John Louth, (760) 937-1774

Printable version

Bishop, August 6, 2008....A total of five fires were ignited on the Inyo National Forest late Tuesaday afternoon as a thunderstorm moved through the area. All fires are believed to have been started by lightning associated with the thunderstorms cells.

The largest of the fires, the Big Trees, burned to an estimated 95 acres and forced the evacuation and closure of two Inyo National Forest Campgrounds, Bitterbrush and Big Trees. The Big Trees fire is located in the Bishop Creek drainage approximately 15 miles southwest of Bishop, CA. A total of 105 personnel and 5 aircraft are assigned to the fire.

The remaining four fires are all less than one acre in size and are expected to be contained by noon on Wednesday, August 6th. The Big Trees fire was 10% contained as of 6:00 am on Wednesday. Weather predictions for Thursday indicate a potential for thunderstorm activity which may produce additional lightning downstrikes.

Forest visitors and residents are reminded that while lightning caused fires are unpreventable, all campfires below 9000 feet in elevation are restricted to developed recreation sites in order to lessen the chances of human caused wildland fires.