9/7 AM Update

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French Fire Update – September 7, 2021

he French Fire started on Wednesday, August 18, west of Lake Isabella in Kern County, and has now burned 26,745 acres with 65 percent containment.

A National Incident Management Team (NIMO) is managing the fire, integrated with Great Basin Incident Management Team 6 and coordinating closely with the Bureau of Land Management, Sequoia National Forest, and Kern County Fire Department in Unified Command. A transfer of command from the NIMO to Team 6 will occur on Wednesday, September 8.

  • Residents are advised to be cautious. Fire engines, water trucks and utility vehicles will be on the roads. Blocking the roads will inhibit personnel from getting work done.
  • The Structure Group is patrolling and mopping up around infrastructure within the fire’s interior.
  • Crews will work on monitoring and improving the line that was burned out on Sunday, September 5. Crews with the support of aircraft will continue to improve handline north of Red Mountain from Bear Creek to Alder Creek.
  • There is minimal fire activity on the north, east, and south sides of the fire. Crews will continue to mop up and patrol the area and remove equipment. Some sections of line near Black Mountain will be monitored from a distance because the area has steep, rocky cliffs and cannot be safely accessed.
  • Very dry and warm conditions with low relative humidity will continue. There will be a slight chance of dry thunderstorms Thursday and Friday.

Public and Firefighter Safety

Please be cautious of surrounding activities and potential hazards in and around the fire area; fire resources will be active in the area. For information on returning home after the fire, visit Ready for Wildfire.

Road Closures:

Highway 155 remains closed from the Glennville side of the western boundary of the Sequoia National Forest to Rancheria Road at the Greenhorn Summit.

Fire Closures:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a temporary closure for the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area to all public access due to wildland fire danger.

Closure Order of All USDA Region 5 National Forests in California:

On Monday, August 30, Regional Order 21-07 was issued, closing all National Forest lands in California to protect visitors, mountain communities, staff, and firefighters.

Fire Restrictions:

Public lands managed by the Sequoia National Forest and the BLM Bakersfield Field Office are under fire restrictions. The use of propane stoves with an on/off switch is permitted, but campfires are not allowed.