The Inn Fire near Mono Lake is now 70% contained at 728 acres in size thanks to the diligent efforts of more than 500 fire personnel who responded quickly after it ignited last Thursday, May 22 at 3:30pm. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fanned by moderate winds and fueled by unusually dry conditions for May, the fire spread rapidly across both sides of Highway 395 in the first several hours after it ignited. One home was burned to the ground, power was cut off to Mono City and Bridgeport after power poles and lines burned down, and an evacuation order was put in place for people living in Mono City and Lundy Canyon.
See our previous report on the Inn Fire here.
Impressive firefighting response
Thankfully, local volunteer fire departments and agency fire crews were able to protect many structures, including the Mono Inn. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft dropped water and retardant almost continuously during daylight hours. Their hard work over the subsequent nights and days saved many homes, allowed crews from Southern California Edison to restore power just 48 hours after it had been cut off, made it possible to reopen Highway 395 during the busy holiday weekend, and eventually allowed residents to return home several days later.
Mono Lake County Park partially burned
The Inn Fire reached and partially burned Mono Lake County Park, a beloved public access point on the northwest shore of Mono Lake. While the restrooms, playground, and most of the lawn were not damaged, parts of the shade structure and a portion of the State Reserve boardwalk down toward Mono Lake did burn.
County Park and the State Reserve boardwalk are currently closed and the Mono Lake Committee is working with California State Parks to understand the scope of the damage and how best to assist with repair efforts. We have heard from many people wishing to help with boardwalk restoration. Please stay tuned—we will let people know when those opportunities are happening.
Community members displaced, one home lost
Mono Lake Committee staff who live in Mono City, Lundy Canyon, and near the Mono Inn were under evacuation orders by 5:30pm on Thursday as the fire advanced eastward. With the highway closed, staff who had come to work in Lee Vining Thursday morning had to take a long detour east into Nevada to reach family members located north of the closure. The Committee opened up any vacant housing we had in the Mono Basin Field Station to house displaced community members even as new seasonal staff were arriving in town to start work for the summer. Thankfully, as firefighters made progress containing the fire the evacuation order was completely lifted by Sunday and people returned home.
One house, the home of our neighbors the Santillan family, tragically did burn to the ground. Julian Santillan, a graduating high school senior, traveled to Argentina last summer with the Experience Ambientalia program and is participating again this year. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the Santillans recover—please consider donating if you can.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on Committee staff, our friends and neighbors, and the status of Mono Lake’s shoreline during the Inn Fire. We appreciate your concern and your love for this place.
Top photo courtesy of the Inyo National Forest.