Containment Date Set For Knight Fire

Sonora, CA — While total acreage burned for the Knight Fire has now reached 4,594, a containment date of Sunday, August 9 has now been set by officials for the blaze that is now 40 percent contained.

Burn-out operations on the west end of the fire are progressing as planned and fire personnel remain on the lines day and night. Contingency line construction is complete and crews are mopping up in the previously burned areas along the fire line. Consistent drops in temperatures and rising humidity are aiding the firefighters.

Today’s activities will include improving the line on the west flank of the fire. From the Stanislaus National Forest Pat Kaunert adds that the Mt. Knight subdivision remains the only area with structures that is potentially threatened. However a dozer line has been completed on the Mt. Knight Ridge and that has greatly increased the protection for the subdivision.

Today’s on site personnel include 30 Type One handcrews, six Type Two hand crews, three air tankers, nine helicopters, 62 engines, 24 water tenders and 10 dozers. Overall there are 1,352 personnel on site fighting the $7.6 million fire.

Several roads and recreation areas including Crandall Peak Staging Area, Sand Bar Flat Campground, Forest Road 4N01 west of Beardsley Rd., 4N01 at Fraser Flats and the southwest end of 4N16 (Italian Bar Rd.) are closed to the public due to the high number of fire personnel and the operations being carried out in those areas. Only authorized personnel will be allowed to pass through Spring Gap.

Click KNIGHT FIRE for a fire location map.

Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com