Fire burning in Mono Basin

The Mono Fire burning in the Mono Basin Scenic Area in between US 395 and the Mono Craters is now 900 acres, according to Public Affairs Specialist for the USFS, Pennie Custer. Two aircraft, one Type 1 Heavy and one Helicopter out of Independence, were expected to be working the fire today, July 27.

The cause of the fire, which started Monday afternoon at approximately 2 p.m., is still under investigation.

Highway 120 East and Test Station Road, which were closed on Monday at 5 p.m., and the day use areas of South Tufa and Navy Beach on the shores of Mono Lake, remain closed at this time.

According to a July 27 press release from the Inyo National Forest, “This morning fire crews have been performing a burn-out operation from Highway 120 East to try to hold the northern flank of the fire at the highway. The fire is 5% contained.

“At this time there are 113 people assigned to the Mono Fire including crews and personnel from the Forest Service, CalFire, and the BLM.

“Nine other lightning caused fires have been suppressed and are being monitored in the Inyo National Forest and neighboring BLM lands since Saturday.

“For more information go to the Mono Fire on www.inciweb.org or call 760.873.2427.” —LAK/Press Release