Inyo National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Contacts: Nancy Upham, 760-873-2427

Printable version | Photos

Bishop, August 8, 2008....

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

Acres Burned: 347

Containment: 78%

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

Cause: Under Investigation

Structures Threatened: 30

Structures Destroyed: 0

Injuries: 2

Total Personnel Assigned: 603

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  caused the fire to spread in a north east direction away from the town of Mammoth Lakes.

The fire was human caused. The details are under investigation.  If anyone was in the Sherwin Lakes area on Saturday, August 2nd or Sunday, August 3rd and has any information, you’re asked to call the U.S. Forest Service fire investigator Paul Meyers at (760) 924-5536.

Good progress was made today on fire line construction and reinforcement of existing fire lines  bringing total containment  88%.  Continued line construction, hot spots, burning trees and  interior islands remain the focus of firefighters.  Anticipated full containment is expected at 6 pm on Friday August 8th.

Evacuations remain in effect for the Sherwin Creek Campground, Laurel Springs Camp, and the YMCA camp.  Sherwin Creek Road is closed from Old mammoth Road to Laural Creek Truck Trail. Wilderness trailheads at Sherwin Lakes and Valentine Lake remain closed.  No wilderness permits are being issued for these trailheads. 

Inyo National Forest and Fire Managers anticipate the reopening of the Sherwin Creek Road and Sherwin Creek Campground on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. Fire areas West of Sherwin Creek Road between the Motocross Road and approximately ¼ mile west of Laural Creek Truck Trail will remain closed to public access.

The incident command post is located at Mammoth High School.  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. Information is also available at www.inciweb.org reference Sherwin Fire.