Smoke from Rough Fire continues to head into Tahoe Basin

Winds the are continuing to move smoke from the 85,894 acre Rough Fire burning outside of Fresno, CA into the Lake Tahoe Basin this weekend.

There are 1,967 personnel currently assigned to the fire and containment has now been increased to 31%. It is burning in the mountains between Fresno and Independence, CA.

According to fire officials, heavy concentrations of smoke are expected near the fire today. Smoke will be slow to lift and transport will primarily terrain and diurnally driven. Light and variable transport winds are expected primarily from the south, with increased impacts expected in San Joaquin Valley foothills northwest of the fires. Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions are expected in communities near the fire.

Expect more of the same on Monday.

Holiday travelers visiting Grant Grove and the Sequoia National Park this holiday weekend are experiencing heavy smoke as well as crowded roads with emergency equipment going to the fire. They are advising those in the area to drive with headlights on and to driver slower than normal.

Fire reached the Lewis Creek Drainage yesterday and pushed northeast as expected. Crews providing structure protection around Cedar Grove began a burn operation around the Water Treatment facility and CCC camp to direct the fire around the structures. Additional crews will be assigned today to bolster the structure protection group should the fire progress east.

Firing operations in the Kennedy Grove, Evans Grove and Big Meadows areas have been completed. The line from Buck Rock east to Big Meadows Road and north into the Sheep Burn will continue to be reinforced, providing depth. Crews made it to interior roads in these areas to conduct burn operations for reinforcement yesterday.

The section around Hume Lake continues to hold strong. Crews assigned to this division are in a patrol and mop up status. This is to ensure that any remaining hot spots within the burn area do not make their way beyond the containment line.