Lightning Caused Fire Near Johnsondale

Springville, California, April 21, 2015 – Yesterday evening the “Sixteen Fire” was discovered in a lightning-struck tree three miles south of Johnsondale on the Western Divide Ranger District in Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest. Approximately 75 feet x 150 feet is burning along the ground beneath the 150 foot dead tree which is located on steep terrain in heavy fuels.

The Sixteen Fire is located in the McNally Fire area, burned in 2002, surrounded by snags and heavy dead and down material mixed with heavy brush. Due to these extreme hazards, firefighters were unable to gain access to the fire until this morning.

At this time, two twenty-person hand crews, three engine crews, and a water tender are taking action to fully suppress the fire. Firefighter and public safety are the Forest Service’s number one consideration in all wildland fire management decisions.

In the past few days, numerous lightning strikes were recorded over the local mountains and are expected to continue. Fire personnel will continue to engage wildfires in ways that reduce risk to firefighter and public safety.

Updated information regarding the Sixteen Fire can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4182/

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