Kern River Ranger District 11 fires: Sherman, Snake, Brush, Poison, Brown, Lime, Clara, Schaefer, Rattlesnake, Beach

The Kern River Ranger District reported eleven fires. 
The fires are scattered throughout the Kern Plateau (north and east of Kernville), along the west Plateau (near Horse Meadow), on the west side of the Upper Kern River near Limestone and in the Piute Mountains near the community of Claraville. 

Fires discovered so far on the Kern River Ranger District:
Kern Plateau - ShermanSnakeBrushPoison, and Brown
Upper Kern - Lime
Piute - Clara
Domeland Wilderness - Cane, approximately 15 acres, located in severely steep terrain with no access.
Schaeffer
Rattlesnake
Beach


Basic Information
Incident Type 
Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Current Situation / Significant Events New lightning caused fires continue to appear as the fuels dry out. Anticipate more fires to be discovered over next several days.Outlook / Planned Actions Safely manage all fires as they are discovered.
Remarks - Multiple Fires

Overview

The Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument and a large portion of the Southern Sierras experienced thunderstorm activity this week. Hundreds of lightning strikes started over a dozen fires, and storms continue to pass through the southern sierra mountains and bring the threat of lightning and more fires.

Forest Service Fire Lookouts watched the storms come through the area and then monitored the mountains with binoculars to see if any fires were started by the lightning strikes. Firefighters are currently assigned to each fire and are working to put them out. At this time there are no trail or road closures in place. Visitors are urged to be cautious when traveling due to debris on the road from large amounts of rain the past few days, along with swollen creeks, or during periods of severe weather associated with thunderstorms. Lightning caused fires can go undetected for days or weeks until forest materials dry enough to allow flames to spread to the surface.

The Hume Lake Ranger District has a lightning caused fire on Junction Ridge near Wren Peak. District fire staff are working with neighboring Sierra National Forest to contain this small fire. Please contact the Hume Lake Ranger District (559) 338-2251 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. for latest fire and weather updates for areas above Fresno.

The Western Divide Ranger District has six lightning caused fires...
Speas Fire, Single tree, 1/10 acre, Contained. South of Johnsondale on Speas Ridge.
Dome Fire, Single tree, surface fire,20x20 in size. Contained. Located near Peppermint Heliport.
Horse Fire, Single tree small, spot of fire. Contained. Located near Peppermint Heliport.
Needle Rock Fire, Surface fire 30X30 in size. Contained. North of Needle Rock Creek southeast of Needles.
Berry Fire, Surface fire 15X30 in size. Contained. Adjacent to private property near Tobias Meadow.
Border Fire, 2 acres in size. Handline construction and mop-up continues. South of Needles.

Please contact the Western Divide Ranger District (559) 539-2607 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for latest fire and weather updates above Springville and California Hot Springs.

For further information, please contact the Kernville Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781, Monday through Friday, or the Lake Isabella Ranger Station at (760) 379-5646, 7 days a week.Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can be reached at (559) 565-3341 for visitor information.
---------------------------------------------