Fire Threat Forces 2nd Evacuation at Lake in Sierra
Erratic winds Friday afternoon forced the evacuation of campers and cabin dwellers at Huntington Lake for a second time as crews battled to stop a raging Sierra Nevada forest fire.
An undetermined number of people staying around the recreational lake were ordered to leave at midafternoon as a precaution because of fears the fire might reach the lake, said Sierra National Forest spokeswoman Robyn Smith.
Nearly 400 residents of Big Creek west of the lake were evacuated Thursday as the fire, driven by changing winds, spread first in one direction, then another.
However, no buildings had been burned either at the lake or in Big Creek, Smith said. The fire was ignited Wednesday when a squirrel caused an electrical short at a Southern California Edison powerhouse.
The fire was moving toward the southwest end of the lake near the base of the dam about 50 miles east of Fresno, Smith said. California 168 was closed Friday afternoon at Tamarack Ridge, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
