Cooler temperatures are aiding firefighters to combat two major fire complexes within the Sequoia region of the southern Sierra Nevadas.
Wednesday night, U.S. Forest Service personnel reported that the Windy Fire – covering the Sequoia National Forest – was 31 percent contained while sitting at 88,068 acres burned.
Containment swelled as temperatures dropped and strong resilience to gusty winds carrying embers across fire lines established by personnel.
Meanwhile, the KNP Complex, which rages within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park area, sits at 48,872 acres consumed with firefighters reaching 11 percent containment, per a Wednesday morning report.
Boudreaux rolls back Windy Fire evacuation orders
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux announced Wednesday that evacuation orders covering Alpine Village, Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Coy Flat, Pierpoint, Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa, Sequoia Crest were being downgraded to evacuation warnings, effective Thursday afternoon.
Mountain Aire and Rogers Camp, meanwhile, remain closed under his prior evacuation order along with any other standing evacuation order or warning.
Highway 190 will reopen at noon with the roadblock being moved to M107.
Only residents will be able to access the newly-reopened area.
Residents must show proof of residence to law enforcement to gain access. Documentation must include their name and address. Examples include a driver’s license, utility bill or address documentation from the U.S. Post Office for people who use a post office box.
