Alabama Hills evacuated due to wildland fire danger
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BISHOP, Calif. — Due to wildland fire danger from the nearby Alabama Fire, the Inyo County Sheriff has issued a CodeRED Alert to campers and recreationists to evacuate the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area near Lone Pine, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office. The BLM, in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol, Inyo County Sheriff, Inyo National Forest and CalFire directed outdoor enthusiasts to leave the Alabama Hills and advised them not to return until the fire danger has subsided.
The Alabama Fire is being managed under Unified Command by the CalFire San Bernardino/Inyo/Mono Unit and the Inyo National Forest. According to CalFire, the incident was sparked by lightening earlier today near the intersection of the Whitney Portal Road and Hogback Road. It has burned approximately 230 acres, including some federal public land, with no containment.
BLM-managed public lands in the Alabama Hills are within the jurisdiction of the Bishop Field Office, yet are designated as CalFire’s Direct Protection Area. This agreement authorizes CalFire, as a state agency, to assume the primary responsibility for attacking wildland fire and suppression actions on BLM-managed public lands.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning and Excessive Heat Warning for the Lone Pine area with high temperatures, gusty winds and a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.
The public is advised to stay informed on wildland fire danger and beware of emergency vehicles and firefighters, which may be utilizing roadways during an emergency. Never drive into smoke, which can obscure your view and always practice One Less Spark – One Less Wildfire.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.