Size: 31,454 acres
Fire Start: August 29, 2017

Containment: 70 percent

Location: Highway 190, east of Springville

Total Personnel: 1,493

Cause: Human caused, under investigation

Resources: Crews 31, Helicopters 8, Engines 94, Dozers 17, Water Tenders 16
Announcement: Officials Downgrade Evacuation Orders for Communities Impacted by the Pier Fire

Effective 6:00 pm today, September 14, 2017, officials will downgrade evacuation orders from mandatory to voluntary for the following communities: Alpine Village, Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Doyle Springs, Mountain Aire, Rogers Camp, Pierpoint Springs, Sequoia Crest and Wishon. Please see the details at the top of this page under “Announcement”
Fire Summary:
Firing operations were again delayed due to recent thunderstorm activity that brought erratic winds and brief showers to some areas of the fire. Despite weather conditions, firefighters were able to hold the fire within the current perimeter. Crews continue to identify and address hazard trees and debris in Rogers Camp, Mountain Aire, as well as between Mahogany Flat and Pierpoint Springs on Highway 190.
Fire suppression repair is ongoing along dozer lines on the northern perimeter of the fire. Crews continue to mop-up and patrol fireline on the eastern edge near Camp Nelson. The 6 acre spot fire near Pierpoint Springs on the south side of Highway 190 has grown to 30 acres but is in an area that is inaccessible. Firefighters are monitoring this spot fire and planning a way to secure it to existing dozer lines, which may include additional firing when weather conditions are favorable.
Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop-up containment line along Forest Road 21S94 between Coy Flat Campground and Rogers Camp. Hazards along the roadway will be addressed today to prepare for residents gaining access to their cabins.
Firefighters will continue firing operations along the 2¼ Road south toward Pine Flat Road and south of Cow Mountain Road on the Tule River Indian Reservation when conditions allow. Smoke and fire may be visible from firing operations once they commence, as well as from interior pockets of vegetation.
Evacuations: See announcement above regarding a change in evacuations
Area Closures: Sequoia National Forest trails, roads, and lands around the Pier Fire are closed (Closure Order No. 0513-17-34, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5548/39662/. CAL FIRE has closed Mountain Home State Forest, and Tulare County has closed Balch Park. All areas are closed until the fire is brought under control. Suppression repair work will take additional time after the fire is contained; recreationists should plan ahead.
Hard Road Closures: The following roads are closed to all traffic:

Highway 190 east of Springville is closed at Upper Rio Vista Road to eastbound traffic.

Highway 190 north of Ponderosa is closed at Forest Road 21S50 to westbound traffic.
Smoke:

Daily updated information for the levels of smoke in communities affected by the Pier Fire can be found on the link on the right side of this page.

People with respiratory conditions, young children, and elderly people may be susceptible to adverse effects. Air District officials urge residents to follow their doctor’s advice. For more information, see https://www.cdc.gov/features/wildfires/index.html or http://valleyair.org/wildfires.htm

Basic Information

Current as of 9/14/2017, 8:02:51 AM

Incident Type Wildfire

Cause Human (under Investigation)

Date of Origin Tuesday August 29th, 2017 approx. 02:30 AM

Location Highway 190 at Wishon Road 7 miles east of Springville

Incident Commander Mike Minton, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5

Current Situation

Total Personnel 1,493

Size 31,454 Acres

Percent of Perimeter Contained 70%

Estimated Containment Date Wednesday September 20th, 2017 approx. 12:00 AM

Fuels Involved 

Primary fuels are dormant brush, hardwood slash, and closed timber litter. The fire is located in a heavy tree mortality area. The southern portion of the fire is burning in a location with little to no recorded fire history.

Significant Events 

Strong overnight relative humidity recovery limited active fire behavior to only very isolated, sheltered areas in the lower elevations, well away from control lines. Elsewhere, interior islands of unburned fuel showed smoldering. Heavy fuels over the highest terrain continued to consume completely, with low intensity surface fire.

Outlook

Planned Actions 

Provide structure protection for threatened communities and infrastructure. Hold, improve, and mop-up completed line. Perform firing operations as conditions allow to secure containment lines and values at risk.

Projected Incident Activity 

Remarks 

Pier Fire personnel and resources are available for initial attack should the need arise.

Current Weather

Weather Concerns 

Sunny with highs 77-82 below 3000 feet, 67-77 higher elevations. Minimum humidity 50-55% below 3000 feet and 65-75% higher elevations. Wind downslope 1-4 mph through 8 am then becoming upslope/upcanyon 3-6 mph with gusts to 15 mph after noon. Ridge wind northwest 12-16 mph.

Inciweb