Lions Fire

The Lions Fire was a wildfire in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in Inyo National Forest and the Sierra National Forest in California in the United States. The fire was started by a lightning strike and first reported on June 11, 2018. The fire impacted recreational activities in both national forests, as well as access to Devils Postpile National Monument. The Lions Fire burned a total of 13,347 acres (54 km2), before burning out on October 1.[1]

Not to be confused with Lion Fire.
Lions Fire
LocationAnsel Adams Wilderness, Sierra National Forest and Inyo National Forest, California, United States
Coordinates37.571°N 119.118°W / 37.571; -119.118
Statistics[1]
Date(s)June 11, 2018 (2018-06-11) – October 1, 2018 (2018-10-01)
Burned area13,347 acres (54 km2)
CauseLightning
Land useNational forest
DeathsNone
Non-fatal injuriesNone
Map
Location of fire in California.

Events

The Lions Fire was reported around noon on June 11, 2018. Started by a lightning strike, it was spotted near Lion Point in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Sierra National Forest. On June 22, the fire crossed into Inyo National Forest. The next day, the fire had spread due to heavy winds, growing to over 1,000 acres (4 km2) and moving closer to Mammoth Lakes at approximately seven miles southwest. The Lions Fire has been burning in high elevations, approximately 6,000 to 8,000 in elevation, thriving on red fir.[2]

Strong winds overnight expanded the fire to 2,383 acres (10 km2). A temporary flight restriction was put in place over a five-mile radius on June 25.[1] By the next day, the fire had burned into the Stairway Creek, northwest of the middle fork of the San Joaquin River. It also reached the Butte Fire (2017) footprint, which slowed the Lions Fire's westward movement.[3] The Lions Fires expanded to over 3,000 acres (12 km2) by the morning of June 28.[4] As of June 30, the fire had slowed its progression and was seven percent contained and had burned 3,300 acres (13 km2).[1]

July 1 marked the fourth day of burn-out operations on the Lions Fire.[1] By July 5, the fire had grown to 4,000 acres (16 km2) and was 60 percent contained, due to lack of fire growth and crews reinforcing firelines, to mitigate concerns about dryer weather and high winds. Air quality remained poor in Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding areas.[5]

By late August, the growth of the Lions Fire slowed, with containment gradually increasing. On October 1, 2018, InciWeb declared the Lions Fire to be inactive, as no more hotspots were detected within the fire perimeter. By then, the fire had burned at total of 13,347 acres (54.01 km2).[1]

Impact

Health

Wind patterns caused the fire's smoke to impact the air quality of Mammoth Lakes and other areas east of the fire.[6]

A Lions Fire public information officer describes the fire and fire ecology to a group of students at Minaret Vista on July 1, 2018

Recreation

The Lions fire impacted visitor access to the Ansel Adams Wilderness, during which trails, in both Inyo and Sierra National Forests, heading towards the fire zone were closed to hikers.[7]

Environment

Due to the fire's location in a designated wilderness area, fire crews used Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics, such as air assistance and hand construction, to minimize their impact on the landscape, supporting a healthy ecosystem. This also provides for better firefighter safety and reduction of hazardous vegetation.[3]

References
  1. "Lions Fire". InciWeb. U.S. Forest Service California. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  2. "Lions Fire Reaches the Inyo National Forest - InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. "Lions Fire Update 6/26/18 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  4. "Lions Fire Update 6/28/2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  5. "Lions Fire Update 7-5-2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  6. "Lions Fire Update 7-1-18 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  7. "Lions Fire Update 6/25/18 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 7 July 2018.

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