Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Marina Fire 4:30pm update

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

As of 4:30pm the Marina Fire is still burning. The US Forest Service is reporting that it has burned an estimated 350 acres. The Tioga Lodge has been evacuated, and Lee Vining is still under an evacuation advisory. Firefighters have made great progress, but winds seem to be shifting and stoking the fire along the north edge.

Marina Fire as seen from Lee Vining.
The Marina Fire as seen from Lee Vining around 4pm on Friday, June 24, 2016. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

Firefighters continue to fight the fire both on the ground and with helicopters and air tankers.

At times there have been four helicopters working on the Marina Fire and scooping water from Mono Lake. Photo by Bartshe Miller.
At times there have been four helicopters working on the Marina Fire and scooping water from Mono Lake. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

Hwy 395 remains closed between the north junction of State Route 120 to four miles south of the junction of State Route 167 with occasional escorts through the fire area as safety permits, though we don’t recommend depending on that possibility. Motorists should be extra vigilant for fallen and falling rocks when driving the adjacent stretch of Hwy 395 along Mono Lake as the loss of vegetation can destabilize slopes, and heavier-than-normal rockfall has already been observed.

Firefighters on the ground along the southern edge of the Marina Fire. Photo by Santiago Escruceria.
Firefighters on the ground along the southern edge of the Marina Fire. Photo by Santiago M. Escruceria.
Fire personnel on Highway 395 and monitoring from below. Red coloration on the highway is fire retardant. Photo by Santiago M. Escruceria.
Fire personnel on Highway 395 and monitoring from below. Red coloration on the highway is fire retardant. Photo by Santiago M. Escruceria.

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