| Lions Fire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date(s) |
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| Location | Ansel Adams Wilderness,Sierra National Forest andInyo National Forest,California,United States |
| Coordinates | 37°34′16″N119°07′05″W / 37.571°N 119.118°W /37.571; -119.118 |
| Statistics[1] | |
| Burned area | 13,347 acres (54 km2) |
| Land use | National forest |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | None |
| Non-fatal injuries | None |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Map | |
  Location of fire in California. | |
TheLions Fire was awildfire in theAnsel Adams Wilderness inInyo National Forest and theSierra National Forest inCalifornia in theUnited States. The fire was started by a lightning strike and first reported on June 11, 2018. The fire impacted recreational activities in both national forests, as well as access toDevils Postpile National Monument. The Lions Fire burned a total of 13,347 acres (54 km2), before burning out on October 1.[1]
The Lions Fire was reported around noon on June 11, 2018. Started by a lightning strike, it was spotted near Lion Point in theAnsel Adams Wilderness in theSierra National Forest. On June 22, the fire crossed intoInyo National Forest. The next day, the fire had spread due to heavy winds, growing to over 1,000 acres (4 km2) and moving closer toMammoth Lakes at approximately seven miles southwest. The Lions Fire has been burning in high elevations, approximately 6,000 to 8,000 feet in elevation, thriving on red fir.[2]
Strong winds overnight expanded the fire to 2,383 acres (10 km2). A temporary flight restriction was put in place over a five-mile radius on June 25.[1] By the next day, the fire had burned into the Stairway Creek, northwest of the middle fork of theSan Joaquin River. It also reached the Butte Fire (2017) footprint, which slowed the Lions Fire's westward movement.[3] The Lions Fires expanded to over 3,000 acres (12 km2) by the morning of June 28.[4] As of June 30, the fire had slowed its progression and was seven percent contained and had burned 3,300 acres (13 km2).[1]
July 1 marked the fourth day of burn-out operations on the Lions Fire.[1] By July 5, the fire had grown to 4,000 acres (16 km2) and was 60 percent contained, due to lack of fire growth and crews reinforcing firelines, to mitigate concerns about dryer weather and high winds. Air quality remained poor in Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding areas.[5]
By late August, the growth of the Lions Fire slowed, with containment gradually increasing. On October 1, 2018, InciWeb declared the Lions Fire to be inactive, as no more hotspots were detected within the fire perimeter. By then, the fire had burned at total of 13,347 acres (54.01 km2).[1]
Wind patterns caused the fire's smoke to impact the air quality ofMammoth Lakes and other areas east of the fire.[6]
The Lions fire impacted visitor access to theAnsel Adams Wilderness, during which trails, in both Inyo and Sierra National Forests, heading towards the fire zone were closed to hikers.[7]
Due to the fire's location in a designated wilderness area, fire crews usedMinimum Impact Suppression Tactics, such as air assistance and hand construction, to minimize their impact on the landscape, supporting a healthy ecosystem. This also provides for better firefighter safety and reduction of hazardous vegetation.[3]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from this U.S government document.
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