PRESS RELEASES

SEASONAL PASS UPDATE

BISHOP — California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is assessing the status of each of the Inyo/Mono seasonal passes for closing, winter closing, open or reopening. The passes have snow, rocks and debris removal work and possible repair that must be completed to ensure the traveling public’s safety prior to reopening.

monitorpass

This is the District 9 Seasonal Pass Status as of Friday, December 8, 2017:

State Route 89 (Monitor Pass) is open at this time.

State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) has been closed for the winter.

State Route 120 West (Tioga Pass) has been closed for the winter.

State Route 120 East is open at this time.

State Route 158 is open at this time.

State Route 168 West (Bishop Creek) has been closed for the winter.

State Route 207 (Bodie) is open at this time.

Several factors weigh in to influence the temporary closing, opening and seasonal closures of our pass roadways.  Storms, accumulation of snow, and road conditions are all considered in the decision-making process by Caltrans leadership. In the case of State Route 120, Yosemite National Park, leadership confers with Caltrans to coordinate closure of park entrance gates as well as Caltrans gates. For the safety of motorists and Caltrans crews, continual updating of these passes will be assessed until the seasonal closure of each is decided.

For the latest highway information please visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

For the safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/d9/

California Statewide Fire Summary
Sunday, December 10, 2017


Over 9,000 firefighters remain on the line continuing to make progress in containing the five fires burning in southern California.  Yesterday, full containment was reached on the Liberty fire. As of today, these fires have burned nearly 200,000 acres and destroyed over 800 structures.

 

Strong winds continue this morning and into the afternoon in many parts of southern California, with potential for gusts upwards of 60mph, and humidity will drop into the single digits.  Winds will begin to weaken tonight, but lighter off-shore winds will continue next week.  Northern California continues to remain dry, with above average daytime temperatures and cold nights.

 

You’ve taken steps to keep your family and home fire safe. Don’t forget your pets and livestock. With some advance planning, you can increase their chances of surviving a wildland fire.  For more information, clickhere.

 

Fires of Interest:

Lilac Fire, San Diego County (more info…)

Bonsall

• 4,100 acres, 60% contained

• Evacuations and road closures in effect

• CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 (Gouvea) assigned

Thomas Fire, Ventura County (more info…)
Santa Paula

 173,000 acres, 15% contained

• Evacuations and road closures in effect

• 15,000 homes threatened, over 88,000 residents evacuated

• CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 (Derum) assigned


Creek Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

Kagel Canyon

• 15,619 acres, 90% contained

• CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 5 (Bravo) assigned

Rye Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

Santa Clarita

• 6,049 acres, 90% contained

Liberty Fire, Riverside County (more info…**FINAL**

Murrieta

• 300 acres, 100% contained

 

Skirball Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…)

North of Brentwood

• 422 acres, 75% contained

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The State of the Inyo, current as of 12/08/17

Mono Lake Ranger District

Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Bodie (Hwy 270), Lundy Canyon, Panum Crater, Hwy 120 E (Benton), June Lake Loop (Hwy 158), Parker Lake Rd.

Roads Closed: Tioga Pass, Saddlebag Lake Rd., Sonora Pass (Hwy 108).

Campgrounds closed: Lundy Canyon (county), Lower Lee Vining, Moraine, Aspen Grove, Big Bend, Ellery Lake, Tioga Lake, Junction, Sawmill Walk-in, Saddlebag Lake, Saddlebag Lake Group Camp, Aerie Crag, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge, Reversed Creek, Silver Lake, Big Springs, Hartley Springs, Glass Creek, Obsidian Flat, Upper and Lower Deadman.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed for the season.

Mammoth Ranger District

Roads open: Convict Lake, Hot Creek Hatchery, Inyo Craters, Mammoth Creek, Mammoth Scenic Loop, Laurel Canyon.

Roads closed: Reds Meadow, Lakes Basin Rd., Old Mammoth Rd to Lakes Basin.

Campgrounds open: Mammoth Mtn. RV Park (private, year round).

Campgrounds closed: Brown’s Owens River, Crowley Lake (BLM), Convict Lake, Coldwater, Old Shady Rest, New Shady Rest, Sherwin Creek, Pine City, Lake George, Lake Mary, Twin Lakes, Agnew Horse, Agnew Group, Upper Soda, Pine Glen Family/Group, Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Devils Postpile (NPS), Minaret Falls, Reds Meadow.

The Mammoth Welcome Center is open daily 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed for the season.

White Mountain Ranger District

CARMA restoration area closure. The main entrance gate on road 8S40 (east gate) to the restoration site is locked.  The western entrance of 8S40 is open, allowing access to the roads 8S40B and 35E306.  At road 35E306, road 8S40 is gated and closed to motorized vehicle travel.  Respect the restoration efforts being made and not travel w/motorized vehicles beyond closed gates or park off of established roadways where vegetative seeding has occurred.

Roads closed: Rock Creek Rd. at the pack station, North Lake Rd., Hwy 168 at the Aspendell gate, South Lake Rd. at Bishop Creek Lodge.

Roads open:  McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Rd.to the pack station,  Buttermilk Rd. (storm damage), Hwy 168 to Aspendell, South Lake Rd. to Bishop Creek Lodge,  Big Pine Canyon (Glacier Lodge) Rd., White Mt. Rd. to the Barcroft Gate (icy conditions, 4WD advised after the visitor center), Silver Canyon Rd., Wyman Canyon Rd. (expect difficult conditions).

Campgrounds open: Holiday (winter ops), Bitterbrush (winter ops), Goodale (no water, BLM), Grandview (no water, no trash service, firewood is limited), Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Pleasant Valley (County).

Campground closed: McGee, Tuff, French Camp, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Pine Grove, East Fork, Rock Creek, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Horton Creek (BLM), Aspen Group, Four Jeffrey, Willow, Bishop Park, Bishop Park Group, Big Trees, Forks, Intake 2, Mountain Glen, Table Mountain Group, Sabrina, North Lake, Big Pine Creek, Sage Flat, Upper Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group Camp, Palisade Glacier Group Camp, Cedar Flat Group Camp.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed for the season.

The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed for lunch (noon- 1:00 pm), closed federal holidays.

Mt Whitney Ranger District:

Roads closed: Horseshoe Meadow Rd., Whitney Portal Rd., Onion Valley Rd.

Roads open: Foothill Rd., Division Creek Rd., Haiwee Canyon Rd., Mazourka Canyon Rd., Movie Rd., Sage Flat Rd.,

Campgrounds open: Boulder Creek RV Resort, Diaz Lake (County), Lone Pine Campground (winter ops), Lower Grays (winter ops), Independence Creek (County), Portagee Joe (County), Tuttle Creek (BLM, south loop closed).

Campgrounds closed: Upper Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Whitney Portal, Cottonwood Lakes/Pass, Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian, Kennedy Meadows.

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

The Inyo National Forest is NOT in Fire Restrictions for fire hazard.

 

 

 

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