Mountain View Fire containment grows to 65%

WALKER, Calif. (KOLO) - NOV. 22 11:30 A.M. Containment on the Mountain View Fire in Mono County has improved to 65 percent and the fire size has been adjusted slightly down to 20,385 acres, authorities said Sunday.

The number of fire personnel has dropped from 211 Saturday to 202 Sunday.

The containment line is not complete, but fire activity is minimal. Most of the containment line not under snow is complete.

“There are a few small areas where parts of burned trees still smoldering on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest portion of the fire footprint,” the fire update said. “Firefighters are mopping up these hotspots where they can be accessed.”

A mild wind is expected Sunday afternoon and crews will look for flare-ups.

NOV. 21 2:45 P.M. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that evacuation orders for the Mountain View Fire will be lifted Sunday at 8 a.m. for Walker are residents.

They ask people to re-enter at U.S. 395 and Eastside Lane.

NOV. 21 NOON The Mountain View Fire in Mono County remains at an estimated 20,879 acres and is 60 percent contained.

Fire officials on Saturday said fire activity overnight was minimal with smoldering reported in dense vegetation in the northeast corner of the fire in the Desert Creek area.

“Firefighters have made good progress in containing the northern area of the fire in the absence of sustained wind and will complete their fire suppression efforts in this area,” fire crews said in a statement. “The west and south perimeter of the fire will be monitored and patrolled for any remaining hotspots, and suppression repair work will continue in these areas.”

On Saturday, breezes are expected to be slower than 8 mph with temperatures in the mid- to upper-40s and relative humidity drier at 32 percent.

There are 211 personnel on the fire.

NOV. 2110:30 A.M. The woman who died in the Mountain View Fire in Walker has been identified as 69-year-old Sallie Joseph. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office said Joseph was found in the debris of her burned home on Lone Company Road.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. As of Friday, November 20, the fire is 20 percent contained. Officials said erratic winds helped drive the fire into residential areas where more than 90 structures burned including several homes.

The fire has burned more than 20,000 acres displacing almost all residents of Walker and Coleville, the sheriff’s office reported.

The State of California has proclaimed a State of Emergency for the fire.

There are many environmental hazards in the town of Walker including lack of power and potentially compromised water supplies. For those who need shelter assistance, the Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) is at Carson Valley Inn,1627 Highway 395 North, Minden, NV.

The sheriff’s office said 170 people were sheltered on Tuesday night, and 127 people were sheltered on Wednesday night.

At this time, there is no more storage available for donations of food, clothing, or other household items; however, financial donations are being accepted. The Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Mammoth Community Foundation and the Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce have partnered for the Mountain View Fire Relief Fund effort.

Go to mammothlakeschamber.org/ to donate. Alternatively, checks for the Mountain View Fire Relief Fund may be made out directly to “Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce,” and mailed to: NMCC, 106651 US HWY 395, Coleville, CA 96107. Please note on the subject line: “Mountain View Fire Relief.”

Contact the Northern Mono Chamber at 530.828.0826 or nomonochamber@gmail.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY, 8:45 P.M. The Bureau of Land Management is reporting that the Mountain View Fire is now 20% contained. The number of acres burned remains at 20,879. BLM officials also report that no additional fire growth is anticipated.

WEDNESDAY, 4:30 P.M. The Mountain View Fire has destroyed 80 structures. The Bureau of Land Management is reporting that the fire is still 0% contained and nearly 200 fire personnel are working to keep the fire east of U.S. Hwy 395, south of Risue Canyon, west of Desert Creek and north of Mill Canyon Road.

Around 800 residents have been evacuated as area closures remain in effect. BLM officials state that rain has helped slow the fire growth.

WEDNESDAY, 2:30 P.M.: U.S. 395 has reopened.

Evacuation orders will be lifted for residents on the west side of U.S. 395 only. Evacuation orders remain in place east of U.S. 395 from Eastside Lane to Cunningham Lane This order for east of U.S. 395 will be reassessed in 24 hours, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office reported.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, 12:50 P.M. Evacuation orders remain in effect for Walker, Coleville and Topaz while crews battle the #MountainViewFire in Mono County.

US 395 from Bridgeport to Nevada Stateline remains closed.

The fire has burned 20,879 acres.

Damage assessments are underway and it could be days before its safe for residents to return, officials said.

One person has died in connection with the fire.

UPDATE 6:30 P.M. The Mountain View Fire has been downgraded to 4,000 acres.

According to Sierra Front, the fire sparked following a downed power line. For updates on this fire, click here.

UPDATE 4:45 P.M. A temporary evacuation point has been set up at the Carson Valley Inn at 1627 U.S. HWY 395 in Minden 89423.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Mono County, CA, Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order in the Walker area from Eastside Lane to Topaz Lane.

The Mountain View Fire is threatening the area.

Highway 395 is now closed from Eastside Lane to Larsen.

The fire has grown to at least 5,000 acres. Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center reports that it may have started with a downed power line.

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