Boot Fire now at 4,620 acres with evacuations and road closures, including US 395

Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/05/2018 - 12:16pm

9:30 p.m. update: The Boot Fire has grown to 4,620 acres with 0 percent containment. Evacuations and road closures continue to grow.

Yesterday the Bootleg, Chris Flat and Sonora Bridge campgrounds in the Walker River Canyon along US 395 were evacuated. Today the Mono County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol evacuated residents and campers from the Leavitt Meadows campground, Leavitt Meadows Pack Station and the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. The structures in Devil’s Gate Pass, Swauger Creek and Fales Hot Springs, four miles south of US 395 and CA SR 108 (Sonora Junction) are under a mandatory evacuation. Ranchers are asked to be prepared to move livestock out of the area south of US 395 and CA SR 108 in the event livestock evacuations are necessary.

Road closures now span from US 395 at Holbrook Junction (NV SR 208) North of Topaz Lake to the North end of Bridgeport CA due to rolling boulders, unsafe trees and continued fire operations through Walker River Canyon. Sonora Pass (CA SR 108) is closed at the Mono Tuolumne county line to US 395. Please see CalTrans District 9 for updates. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between CA SR 108 at Sonora Pass and Highway 4 at Ebbetts Pass. Recreationists are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and proximity to the areas threatened by fire.

Today’s fire behavior was extreme and erratic burning to the west and southerly directions. The northern flanks of the fire had minimal growth throughout the day. There are currently 275 personnel on the fire with additional personnel and equipment on the way. Aviation and ground forces continue working the fire with structure protection taking place throughout the night.
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The Boot Fire has burned approximately 3,000 acres in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest since starting early Tuesday, September 4. Evacuations remain in place for the Bootleg, Chris Flat and Sonora Bridge Campgrounds.

US 395 remains closed from the north end of the junction of SR 108 to the south end of Coleville, Calif. SR108 remains open.

200 firefighting personnel are on the scene.