Rock Fire reaches 8,000 acres with little containment in Eastern Sierra

Strong winds are pushing the Rock Fire in the Eastern Sierra across thousands of acres of difficult terrain full of rabbitbrush, sagebrush, salt grass and lava rock. Cal Fire said Wednesday morning that the Rock Fire has increased to 8,000 acres and is 5% contained. Flames are burning between Big Pine and Independence, near Black Rock Springs Road and U.S. Highway 395. 

"The fire progressed, however it stayed within existing control lines," Cal Fire wrote in an update Wednesday morning. 

The brush-filled and rocky terrain has challenged firefighters, preventing bulldozers from accessing parts of the fire perimeter, according to Cal Fire. As the fire grows, flames are moving into steeper slopes that are more forested in the High Sierra.

Monsoonal weather has complicated firefighting efforts since the fire broke out Monday evening, with strong, erratic winds followed by thunderstorms and lighting, Cal Fire said. (SFGATE called Cal Fire's San Bernardino unit on Wednesday for comment but did not receive a response before publication.) 

On Tuesday, morning winds pushed the fire southwest and upslope to the north, but in the afternoon, the winds pivoted 180 degrees, sending the fire back in the opposite direction. 

Thunderstorms also impacted firefighting efforts, said Lindsey Stine, a spokesperson for the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, in a phone call Wednesday with SFGATE. "We had some thunderstorm activity yesterday, which did hinder firefighters because they had to take cover," she said. 

On Wednesday, the monsoonal weather pattern had weakened, but firefighters are staying vigilant as the weather forecast swings from thunderstorms to extreme heat. Temperatures in the Owens Valley are expected to rise throughout the day on Wednesday and climb above 100 degrees by the end of the week, the National Weather Service in Las Vegas forecast. 

"If winds strengthen, fire activity could increase, potentially necessitating additional evacuations," Cal Fire wrote on Wednesday morning.

The Rock Fire started in the brush along Highway 395 on Monday, endangering motorists and shutting down the highway. Strong and erratic winds spread the flames across 5,500 acres by Tuesday morning. "Erratic winds and dead, dry vegetation continue to challenge firefighting efforts," Cal Fire wrote in an update Tuesday morning. 

Highway 395 has since reopened, allowing motorists to pass through the vital corridor that links communities across the Eastern Sierra Nevada region. Traffic is moving through both northbound lanes and a single southbound lane, Stine said.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect as of Wednesday morning, Stine said. Cal Fire noted that Birch Creek, Fish Springs, Tinnemaha Campground, Baxter Ranch and the Perlite Mine are threatened. 

Residents of Aberdeen, a rural community of about 20 people, have evacuated and are staying at evacuation centers or with family, Stine said. Several campgrounds have also been evacuated, Stine said, including Goodale Creek Campground, Taboose Creek Campground and Tinnemaha Creek Campground. This is typically a busy time of year for camping in the Eastern Sierra, Stine said, noting that the campgrounds also have staff who live there full-time. 

"Those have all been evacuated so there's no one in there," Stine said.

The Rock Fire is also impacting nearby trailheads at Sawmill Pass, Red Lake and Birch Lake, which are popular stops for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail to pick up mail, resupply and rest. However, as the fire is making its way up toward those trailheads, officials advise that hikers not venture into the area. 

On Monday, the Rock Fire caused significant damage to power lines and infrastructure, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said. 

"The first night the fire started, on Monday we were having a lot of power outages in the area," Stine said.

Approximately 100 poles have been damaged in the fire, leading to temporary power outages. Power has since been restored. The department dispatched workers to begin assessing the damage and repairing the poles, according to a news release. SFGATE called the department for comment but did not receive a response before publication. 

Officials advised that people keep a close eye on the weather as the week progresses, Stine said. "You just don't know what's going to happen with the weather," she said.

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