UPDATE 7 AM TUESDAY:

 

The Mono Fire has grown to 500 acres, and Highway 120 East is still closed as of this morning.

Last evening, two air tankers and two helicopters worked the fire, which is located near the Mono Craters, south of Mono Lake.Nancy Upham of the Forest Service said 113 personnel were working the blaze, which started Monday afternoon. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

This morning, crews were burning fires south to meet the Mono Fire. Upham said officials are hoping the burnout operation will hold the fire. “Everything’s looking good this morning,” she said.

Motorists will need to use alternate routes with 120 East closed as of 7 a.m. Tuesday.

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Thunderstorms have started numerous small wildfires across the Eastern Sierra.

Nancy Upham with the Forest Service reports that there is one sizeable fire east of Bridgeport. The Potato Fire started Saturday, is listed at 686 acres in size and 70% contained.

On Sunday, storms started the one acre Snag Fire near Rainbow Falls. The TJ Fire, which also started Sunday is listed as controlled and 1/10th of an acre in size.

Monday, the Thunderstorms continued. So far, fire crews have been kept busy by five small fires, all listed at 1/10 of an acre in size, basically single trees or not much more. The Fork Fire, near Glass Mountain is contained. There is also the Cow Fire, south of Highway 167, the Aspen Fire in Long Valley, the Sunny Slopes Fire, which is controlled, and the Dry Fire near Smokey Bear Flat.

Nancy Upham says that additional fires may continue to pop-up as some may not have ignited yet due to the rain.

Edit: Since this story was first posted we have received reports of another fire. This fire is listed as the Mono Fire, it’s burning near the Mono Craters south of Mono Lake. At last word the fire was 100 acres in size. Forest Service officials had ordred additional resources to fight this fire at last word. Caltrans had also closed Highway 120 East, due to the fire.

Forest Service Officials say that the fire has grown, and may reach 500 acres in size before containment. So far, no structures are threatened. Two air tankers had been ordred and at 6:00 pm, two more air tankers were ordered to help fight the fire.

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