Inyo National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Contacts: Nancy Upham, 760-873-2427

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Bishop, August 5, 2008....

Location:  Mammoth Lakes, California - North of the Mt Baldy Village Area

Acres Burned: 230

Containment: 5%

Fire Started: August 3, 2008 @ 11:45 a.m.

Cause: Under Investigation

Structures Threatened: 30

Structures Destroyed: 0

Injuries: 1

Summary

On Sunday August 3rd at approximately 1145 AM, the Sherwin Fire started in the Sherwin Lakes area 2 miles southeast of Mammoth Lakes.  Firefighters on the ground from multiple agencies went into action with support from fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft to suppress the fire.  Wind has caused the fire to spread in a north east direction away from the town of Mammoth Lakes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.  If anyone was in the Sherwin Lakes area on Saturday or Sunday, August 3rd and has any information, we ask that you call the U.S. Forest Service investigator Paul Meyers at (760) 924-5536.

Evacuations are in effect for the Sherwin Creek Campground, Laurel Springs Camp, and the YMCA camp.  Sherwin Creek Road remains closed as well as wilderness trailheads at Convict Lake, Sherwin Lakes, Valentine Lake and Laurel Pass.  No wilderness permits are being issued for these trailheads.

As of Monday evening, management of the fire will be under Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 and Incident Commander Carlton Joseph.  Firefighters will continue to construct fireline around the fire today.  Resources have been arriving and more are scheduled to arrive today.

The incident command post is set-up at Mammoth High School and will be the central point for mobilizing and supporting the fire crews.  Agencies assisting the USFS on the fire include CAL FIRE, Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District, Long Valley Fire Department Protection District, Mono County Sheriffs Department, Mammoth Lakes Police Department, CHP, and the city of Mammoth Lakes.

Contact: Fire Information (760) 934-8054
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.