Update: June Lake Fire (7:30 AM) Here are the updates from the morning briefing: There will be a change in the traffic pattern and road closures for this fire. The closure is moving from South Junction at 395 down to Oh Ridge Point on Hwy 158. Access can be made from Oh Ridge Point to North Shore Road. On the north end of Hwy 158, access is still available and open until the Peterson Tract/Rainbow Road. Residents that live in the Peterson Tract can access their homes. There will be coned off areas throughout the closure points and access roads. Please be aware of these coned off closures. Any vehicle or traveler that violates these coned closures will be cited. These closures are to ensure the publics safety. Please adhere and follow all closures. Power has been cut off in June Lake from east of June Mountain, throughout town, and south junction. The power was cut to ensure firefighter safety. At this time, there is no estimated time when power will be turned back on. Along with the power outage, phone services, including land lines and cell phones, are still inoperable. There is no estimation on when services will be restored. For those in the evacuation areas, the emergency shelter is still open at the June Lake Community Center. For any evacuees that have been displaced from your home, local law enforcement is escorting residents back to their homes to obtain essential belongings ONLY (i.e. paperwork, medications, etc.). An officer or deputy will escort you home, you have a few minutes to collect any essential belongings, and the officer/deputy will immediately escort you out. Please follow all instructions and timelines given by local law enforcement as these instructions are for your safety. The fire is at 50 acres. It is still burning east of June Mountain toward the south side of town limits. Multiple aircraft have been ordered and will be starting their fire suppression services within the hour. Air equipment will be using the Lee Vining Airport. Also, there will be no recreational activities allowed on Gull Lake and June Lake today as fire helicopters will be using the water from the lakes for air dipping. Structure protection is still in full effect throughout town. Fire crews are ensuring the protection of structures. There is no damage to any structures at this time. As of now, there have been no reported injuries of responding personnel or local residents. The The Forest Service - Inyo National Forest will be providing additional updates and we will be sure to post those here as well in our collaborative efforts to give everyone the most updated information. Thank you all, again, for your patience throughout the night and into early this morning as the morning gears up. More updates will be posted as they become available. Thank you!! - Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 14:36:49 +0000