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- Incident Name: Marina, Mono County
- Size (acres): 654
- Percent contained: 100%
- Estimated containment date: July 4, 2016
- Firefighters assigned: 117
- Structures destroyed: 0
- State: California
- Lead Agency: Inyo National Forest[/x_accordion_item]
Marina, Inyo NF. One mile northwest of Lee Vining, CA. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior. Evacuations in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
July 3, 2016 at 10:00 PM
Expected thunderstorms Potential for debris and mud flow from predicted thunderstorm outflow and wetting rain
June 30, 2016 at 7:43 AM
Crews will continue to focus efforts on identifying hot spots and suppression repairs. An increase in moisture and thunderstorm activity is expected over the area starting tomorrow afternoon, which has the potential to cause flash floods. The US Forest Service, California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans will be monitoring the weather for any rainfall over the burn area.
The fire camp at the Lee Vining Community Center will remain operational for the next few days. A Type 3 Management Team will assume command of the fire as the Type 2 team from Southern California departs. Demobilization of excess equipment and personnel will occur as the incident needs change.
Five hand crews, one engine, one dozer, two helicopters, and three water tenders. A total of 276 personnel are assigned to the incident.
June 29, 2016 at 8:26 AM
Thunder and lightning activity forced firefighters to retreat to safe areas while working on the fire yesterday. An increase in moisture and thunderstorm activity is expected today, which has the potential to cause flash floods. Strong outflow winds of up to 50 mph may produce clouds of dust and ash that could impact visibility on Highway 395. Firefighters, California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans will be monitoring the effects of the weather on Highway 395 and coordinate actions to ensure public safety.
The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team completed the Marina Fire assessment surveys yesterday. They are finalizing the burn severity map. Potential damage from erosion and debris flow expected in future storm events will be estimated using this map. The next step is to propose solutions to minimize or prevent damage to “critical values” including Highway 395 and the power line road. The BAER team will coordinate with Caltrans and Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) to address slope stability issues on Highway 395 later this week.
Twelve hand crews, eighteen engines, three helicopters, one dozer and three water tenders. A total of 474 personnel are assigned to the incident.
June 28, 2016 at 8:05 AM
Development of thunderstorms over the area may produce dry lightning and strong outflow winds of up to 50 mph, which can contribute to the fires ability of growing. There is also a potential for new fires in the area with the predicted dry lightning forecast. Wind conditions in the burned area are producing clouds of dust and ash that may appear to be smoke.
Fire suppression repair efforts are in effect. The work being done will potentially minimize the effects of erosion around the burned area. One of the techniques used to lessen the impact of erosion will be water barring. Constructed containment lines will be leveled to pre fire conditions and have a trench constructed through them to dissipate water when rainfall occurs.
As the containment line continues to increase, so to will the release of unnecessary resources. The demobilization process will allow equipment and personnel to return to their home units or be available for reassignment to other fires.
Fourteen hand crews, eighteen engines, two dozers, five helicopters, and three water tenders. A total of 517 personnel are assigned to the incident.
June 27, 2016 at 8:02 PM
The Marina Fire total acreage burned remains at 654 acres and is now at 61% containment. Fire crews continue to be successful in constructing fire line around the perimeter of the fire and have begun suppression repair operations where conditions allow.
Weather forecast for tomorrow calls for a 20% chance of dry lightning and thunderstorms in the afternoon. On Wednesday and Thursday, there is a 30% chance of thunderstorms with a higher potential for rainfall. This is a concern because rainfall over the burn area may produce rockslides and debris flows.
Southern California Edison plans to implement traffic control on Mill Creek Powerhouse Road due to safety concerns. The road will be closed to the public. We ask that the public continue to drive safely through the fire area on Highway 395 as crews continue to utilize the highway to access the fire.
Fourteen hand crews, eighteen engines, two dozers, three water tenders, six helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft. A total of 517 personnel are assigned to the incident.
June 27, 2016 at 8:21 AM
The Marina Fire total acreage burned has been adjusted to 654 acres and is now at 46% containment. The change in acreage is due to more precise GPS mapping. The fire is located north of Lee Vining and crossed over a portion of Highway 395.
As of 8:00 am this morning Highway 395 has been reopened in both directions.
All evacuations have been lifted and residents have been allowed to return home. Due to evacuations being lifted, Mono County Sheriff Department is no longer in Unified Command with the United States Forest Service.
Fire crews working closely with air operations continued to make progress on improving the containment line around the fire perimeter. Mop up operations continued in all areas of the fire and along Highway 395. Hot spots still exist within the fire perimeter and will continue to produce light smoke as it consumes the unburned vegetation.
Crews will focus their efforts on building containment line on steep slopes, identifying hot spots and beginning suppression repair efforts. Today the forecasted weather calls for the highest temperature of the week with low humidity and local afternoon to early evening winds. This will keep firefighters on high alert for potential fire spread.
We ask that the public continue to drive safely through the fire area as crews continue to utilize the highway to access the fire. Southern California Edison continues to repair and replace power lines affected by the fire. Potential for rockslides still exist and will be monitored by incident personnel.
A BAER (Burn Area Emergency Response) team is evaluating the fire area for soil erosion, flood assessment and other potential impacts to the natural resources. Eleven hand crews, twenty-three engines, two dozers, six helicopters, two fixed wing aircrafts and three water tenders. A total of 493 personnel are assigned to the incident.
June 26, 2016 at 8:57 PMFire crews working closely with air operations continued to make progress on improving the containment line around the fire perimeter. Mop up operations continued in all areas of the fire and along Highway 395. Afternoon winds were observed on the fire as predicted and no changes in fire growth occurred. Hot spots still exist within the fire perimeter and will continue to produce light smoke as it consumes the unburned vegetation.
California Highway Patrol continues to provide escorts through the fire area in both directions along Highway 395. We ask that the public drive safely through the fire area as crews from Southern California Edison continue to repair and replace power lines affected by the fire. Potential for rockslides still exist and will be monitored by incident personnel.
Eight hand crews, twenty-three engines, two dozers, six helicopters, four fixed wing aircrafts and three water tenders. A total of 373 personnel are assigned to the incident.
June 26, 2016 at 10:38 AM
The California Department of Transportation would like to notify travelers that US Hwy 395 in Mono County near Lee Vining reopened to escorted one way traffic this morning after being closed due to a wildfire for the past two days. California Highway Patrol is providing escorts through the fire area in both directions along Highway 395 due to fire equipment utilizing the highway, power line repair and potential rock slides. The escort will be from just north of the town of Lee Vining on the south and at Highway 167 on the north. The public should anticipate up to a 20 minute delay. It is anticipated that the highway will fully reopen at noon today.
June 26, 2016 at 9:49 AM
SoCal Team 1 Type 2 IMT assumed command of the incident at 0600 hours. The fire is under Unified Command with the US Forest Service and Mono County Sheriff’s Office.
Crews continued to work overnight securing the fire-lines taking advantage of cooler temperatures and calm winds that decreased fire behavior.
Today crews will continue to construct direct line on the north and south end of the fire and mop up hot spots near the perimeter. Aircraft will continue to assist with suppression efforts. The forecast for today will include slight warming with relative humidity in the low teens. The common afternoon down canyon winds in this area will continue to influence potential for fire growth.
California Highway Patrol is providing escorts through the fire area in both directions along Highway 395 due to fire equipment utilizing the highway, power line repair and potential rock slides. The escort will be from just north of the town of Lee Vining on the south and at Highway 167 on the north. The Tioga Lodge and two additional residences have been evacuated. The communities of Lee Vining and Mono City are under an evacuation advisory.
Eight hand crews, 23 engines, six helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft, and two dozers are assigned to the fire. There are 355 personnel assigned to the fire.
The investigation to determine the exact cause and origin of the fire is ongoing.
June 25, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Today crews strengthened the south, east, and north flanks of the fire, again focused on protecting the nearby communities and along Highway 395. Additionally, support from both helicopters, airplanes, and tankers (including the very large air tanker, or VLAT) helped minimize hotspots and slow fire growth, which assisted firefighters on the ground.
Crews also worked on contingency lines and scouted options to tie in the western flank.
Highway 395 is closed at the town of Lee Vining on the south at the turnoff for Hawthorne, NV (Highway 167) on the north. However, California Highway Patrol is conducting one-way traffic escorts as conditions allow. Mono County Sheriff and Caltrans District 9 have worked tirelessly with CHP to implement this escort.
The Tioga Lodge and two additional residences have been evacuated. Lee Vining and Mono City are under an evacuation advisory.
SoCal Team 1 will assume command of the incident tomorrow morning at 6:00 am.
There are approximately 350 personnel on the fire. Eight hand crews, 23 engines, six helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft, two dozers, and three water tenders are assigned to the fire.
The fire is under Unified Command with the US Forest Service and Mono County Sheriff’s Office. The fire has been determined to be human-caused and remains under investigation.
June 25, 2016 at 9:42 AM
Increased acreage due to more accurate mapping, not increased fire activity.
June 25, 2016 at 8:26 AM
The fire spotted across Highway 395 yesterday south of Mono City pushed by strong down canyon winds.
Crews worked overnight to secure firelines near the communities and the highway, taking advantage of cooler temperatures and calm winds that decreased fire behavior.
Today crews will continue to construct direct line on the north and south flanks, and look for opportunities for indirect contingency lines. Warm, dry conditions will continue and down canyon winds are anticipated this afternoon.
Highway 395 is closed at the town of Lee Vining on the south at the turnoff for Hawthorne, NV (Highway 167) on the north. There is no estimated time for the highway to re-open at this time. The Tioga Lodge and two additional residences have been evacuated. Lee Vining and Mono City are under an evacuation advisory.
There are approximately 300 personnel on the fire. A Type 2 team has been ordered and will in brief today before assuming command of the fire.
Seven hand crews, 23 engines, six helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft, and two dozers are assigned to the fire.
The fire is under Unified Command with the US Forest Service and Mono County Sheriff’s Office.
The fire has been determined to be human-caused and remains under investigation.
June 24, 2016 at 2:35 PM
Detour Route for US Hwy 395 – Mono County near Lee Vining:
Northbound US Hwy 395 (Mono County)
Take State Route 120 East towards Benton. At US Hwy 6 go north to Nevada State Route 360, and north of US Hwy 95 to the junction of State Route 359. Go West on SR 359 to State Route 167 which will take you back to US Hwy. 395.
Southbound US Hwy 395 (Mono County)
Take State Route 167 which turns into Nevada 359 to the junction of US Hwy 95. Go south on US Hwy 95 to State Route 360. At the junction of US Hwy 6 go south to US Hwy 395.
June 24, 2016 at 2:00 PM
A few brief updates on the fire. It’s now estimated to be 350 acres and crews continue to focus their efforts the nearby communities and the highway.
The Tioga Lodge has been evacuated and Lee Vining is under an evacuation advisory.
Several powerlines have been de-energized for firefighter safety. This is affecting Bridgeport. SCE is working to get the power back up through other lines.