A wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon near Crowley Lake in Mono County, quickly spreading to 3,400 acres and damaging homes in a nearby trailer park, authorities said.
The fire, known as the Pack Fire, broke out on McGee Creek Road just west of Highway 395 around 12:30 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire was burning at a “critical rate of spread,” growing from three acres to 1,000 acres in an hour and prompting evacuations around Lake Crowley. A map of the affected areas can be viewed here.
At 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire reported that firefighting aircraft were grounded due to severe weather, with winds blowing from the south at 12 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Later in the evening, Cal Fire reported wind gusts as high as 50 mph.
An estimated 15 homes at McGee Trailer Park were damaged by the fire and 30 other structures were threatened, according to Cal Fire.
A state agency said the Parker Fire was burning at a “critical rate of spread” on Thursday.
(Cal Fire San Bernardino)
Highway 395 in Mono County was closed from Tom’s Place to Benton Crossing Road as fire crews worked to contain the blaze, according to the California Department of Transportation. Drivers traveling from Inyo County to northern Mono County or Nevada are advised to detour to Highway 6 in Bishop.
Evacuation centers are open at Mammoth Middle School in Mammoth Lakes and the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop.
Fire crews should soon receive assistance from rain and possible snow as a Mono County winter storm warning is in effect from 1 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts of up to 70 mph are expected along the highest peaks, while gusts of up to 50 mph are expected below 8,000 feet.
The Pack Fire is burning at an elevation of about 7,000 feet.
