Firefighters deal with inaccessible terrain amid Basin Fire, USFS says

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The Basin Fire has made its way north to inaccessible terrain, prompting fire personnel to build a temporary helicopter landing pad, forest officials said Friday.

The northern perimeter of the fire is currently burning in a very steep area of the Sierra National Forest, making it nearly impossible for crews to build firelines, according to the US Forest Service (USFS).

Forest service officials say a helicopter rappelling crew has been ordered to the Dinkey Creek drainage area. While there they will build a temporary landing pad for inserting and removing firefighters north of the fire.

Despite the rugged terrain, crews were able to virtually pause overnight fire growth, with less than 50 acres of additional burn reported since Thursday .

As of Friday morning , the Basin Fire is 14,020 acres and 46% contained.

The fire is burning between 2,000 and 4,500 feet in elevation; however, daily highs remain in the low 100s with a minimum relative humidity of 18% to 22%, USFS officials say. Cooling stations have been brought into the fire camps to help fire personnel avoid the ill effects of heat stress.

A live map showing the evacuation orders can be viewed below:

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for Fresno County zones K29, K30, K31, K40, K41 and K166. Evacuation warnings are in effect for zones K61 and K76.

The following campgrounds are also closed:

• Bear Wallow Campground
• Black Rock Campground
• Gravel Flat Group Campground
• Kirch Flat Campground
• Kirch Flat Group Campground
• Oak Flat Campground
• Ross Crossing Campground
• Sawmill Flat Campground
• Bretz Mill Campground

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