USFS news releases

Limited Entrance for Horseshoe Meadows

Fire personnel with the Horseshoe Fire will be allowing limited entrance to Horseshoe Meadows for those people who have a demonstrated need to be in the area. This would include people that need to retrieve their vehicle from trailhead parking, people who were unable to collect their personal camping equipment during the evacuation, those picking up hikers with stock, or those who have stock in the area that need care.

Traffic control will be provided on Saturday, August 13, and Sunday, August 14, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and noon. People will need to check in and check out with security at the gate at Lubkin Canyon Road at which point ten vehicles will be allowed in at a time for safety management. Law enforcement officers will be present to implement the plan. All visitors must be checked back out by noon(therefore, it is highly advised that people plan to be at the gate at 9:00 am and by10:00 am at the latest).

The road remains closed to other business. No one will be allowed to spend the night in Horseshoe Meadows Campground and the trailheads out of Horseshoe Meadows remain closed.

There are still fire crews working along this narrow road and people should anticipate delays and one-lane traffic. Please honor the spirit of this entrance for those who need to get into Horseshoe Meadows. Your cooperation will help assist in getting the road fully re-opened as soon as possible.

Horseshoe Fire Now Mapped at 362 acres

(from Thursday night)

 The Horseshoe Fire is estimated to be 362 acres and 50% contained. The fire started August 9, 2016 in the afternoon towards the top of the Horseshoe Meadow Road, just east of the developed recreation campgrounds, near Last Chance Meadow. It is estimated

Good progress was made today. The majority of the fire activity consists of interior fuels that continue to burn. The challenges today include dry fuels, accompanied by low relative humidity. The change in acreage is a result of better mapping.

The fire is burning at 9,000 feet in elevation in mountain mahogany, lodgepole pine, and sage.

A mandatory evacuation of Horseshoe Meadows Campgrounds (Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, the Horseshoe Equestrian Camp and Golden Trout Camp) remains in effect until further notice. Hikers and campers returning from the wilderness, will be escorted out.

The Cottonwood Pass, Cottonwood Lakes, and Trail Pass Trailheads are closed and the forest has suspended issuing permits for the popular trailheads at this time. There is also a hard closure of Lubkin Canyon Road and Horseshoe Meadows Road.

Responding agencies include Inyo National Forest, Inyo Sheriff’s Office, Lone Pine Fire, Bishop Fire, Independence, CalFire, BLM, CHP, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Fighting the fire include: 9 hand crews, 16 engines, 2 air tankers, 5 helicopters, 2 water tenders, air attack and lead planes assigned to the incident. There are approximately 249 people assigned to the incident.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but appears to be human caused.

Due to good progress with the fire’s activity, updates will be sent out at needed. This will be the last evening update.

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