Update: Acreage Jumps In Boot Fire
Update at 2:30pm: The incident command team has updated the Boot Fire’s size estimate to 6,706 acres or almost 10.5 square miles. That is a 2,000 acre jump from the last reported numbers, see below for closures, evacuations and more details.
Update at 10am: The incident command team assigned to the Boot Fire reports that 400 firefighters are now on scene, and crews have gained 3-percent containment. The size estimate remains 4,620. The goal is to fully contain the fire by one week from today, Thursday, September 13. That said, extreme fire behavior is still anticipated over the coming 72 hours. Thunderstorms, with lightning, are also a possibility.
Original story posted at 7am: Bridgeport, CA — There is still no containment on the Boot Fire burning near the intersection of Highway 108 Sonora Pass and Highway 395, and it is 4,620 acres.
The number of evacuations and road closures increased yesterday as the fire burned to the west and south. Highway 108 Sonora Pass is closed between the intersection of Highway 395 and Kennedy Meadows. Areas evacuated include Leavitt Meadows Campground, Leavitt Meadows Pack Station, the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Devil’s Gate Pass, Swauger Creek and Fales Hot Springs.
The fire ignited on Tuesday at 2:30pm nine miles southwest of the community of Walker and 15 miles from Bridgeport.
There are 275 firefighters assigned to the incident and a larger, type 2 incident management team, will take over operations on Friday morning.
The Boot Fire was 100 percent contained on September 17, a timeline of news stories is here.
