Wet Weather Aids Sierra Firefighters
Fickle weather slowed firefighters’ efforts to halt the first major wilderness blaze this year in the Sierra, then turned in their favor as rain and snow helped quench the flames.
Stacey Giomi, a spokesman for the Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators, said rain, snow and cooler temperatures helped crews build a line around the 4,800-acre fire.
The fire was declared fully contained at 6 a.m. Friday, Giomi said.
The fire broke out at 3 p.m. Wednesday about eight miles west-northwest of Bishop near a campground at the base of Mount Tom in the Inyo National Forest, Giomi said.
Erratic winds gusting to 60 m.p.h. hampered firefighting efforts on Wednesday, and kicked up again on Thursday.
“All the fire lines held. That really built up confidence in us. They weren’t even able to use air tankers,” he said.
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