A wildfire started near Crowley Lake in Mono County on Thursday afternoon, quickly grew to 3,400 acres and damaged homes in a nearby mobile home park, authorities said.
The fire, called the Pack Fire, was reported on McGee Creek Road west of Highway 395 shortly before 12:30 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire was burning at a “critical spread rate,” growing from three acres to 1,000 in an hour and prompting evacuations around Lake Crowley. A map of the affected areas can be seen here.
At 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire reported that firefighting aircraft had been grounded due to bad weather, as winds were blowing 12 to 16 mph from the south, with gusts up to 24 mph. Later that night, Cal Fire reported gusts up to 50 mph.
An estimated 15 homes in McGee Trailer Park were damaged by the fire, while another 30 structures were threatened, according to Cal Fire.
Highway 395 in Mono County was closed from Tom's Place to Benton Crossing Road as fire crews worked to control the fire, according to the California Department of Transportation. Drivers traveling from Inyo County to northern Mono County or Nevada were advised to use Highway 6 in Bishop as a detour.
Evacuation centers were open at Mammoth Middle School in Mammoth Lakes and at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop.
Fire crews should soon be assisted with the arrival of rain and possible snow, as a winter storm warning is in effect in Mono County from 1 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are forecast along the highest peaks, while gusts of up to 50 mph are expected below 8,000 feet.
The Pack Fire was burning at about 7,000 feet elevation.
