Pinecrest, CA…Well ladies & gents, an incident management team has been called in and the Donnell Fire has crossed the threshold of becoming a multi-day, campaign fire incident. The Donnell Fire started on August 1 near the east side of Donnell Lake. The fire is burning primarily along the north bank of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River in steep and rough terrain with heavy standing dead and down timber. The fire is being managed as full suppression incident from the start. Due to the other large fires in the region and state, resources are being ordered and filled as they are available. Other local incident management teams are sharing aircraft and personnel as needed.

Yesterday afternoon, strong winds pushed the fire northeast into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and across the Clark Fork Road towards Bald Peak. The fire grew by about 5,000 acres and is now 5,814 acres. The Red Flag Warning expired last night, however, weather patterns are expected to be similar today with slightly lower winds than as yesterday. Aircraft are assisting firefighters within the river canyon. The fire burned into the 2017 McCormick Fire, slowing its growth on the northeast flank.

Today, crews will monitor and prep for structure protection along Highway 108. Crews cleared vegetation around the Double Dome repeater last night and will continue to monitor the site today.

Yesterday, California Highway Patrol closed Highway 108 eastbound at the Eagle Meadow Rd. and westbound at Dardanelle Resort. A mandatory evacuation was implemented in the area, including all campgrounds and residences. Today, the evacuation will be extended to Kennedy Meadows.

As of 6 am today, the Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team (Lee Rickard, IC) assumed management of the fire.

Visitors and residents are advised that smoke to the west of Pinecrest is likely coming from the Ferguson Fire.

Currently, the Pacific Crest Trail at Sonora Pass is open, but hikers are advised there may be smoke impacts on the trail.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: Mandatory evacuation from Highway 108 at Eagle Meadow Road to Kennedy Meadows was implemented at 9 am today.

For more information about the Stanislaus National Forest, visit us at www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus, “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StanislausNF, or “follow” us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/StanislausNF.

For more information please go to http://www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/ or contact us by email at donnellfirestf1918@gmail.com.

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LOCATION: Stanislaus National Forest

COMMAND TEAM: Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team

ACRES: 5,800

PERCENT CONTAINED: 0%

TOTAL PERSONNEL – 207

4 Hand Crews, 3 Helicopters, 11 Engines