Firefighters Successfully Contain Mono County Blaze: What You Need to Know About Evacuations and Updates

Firefighters made good progress on Sunday in battling a slow-moving brush fire near Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Mountain.

The fire, known as the Inn Fire, started Thursday afternoon near Highway 395 in Mono County. By nighttime, it had spread to over 500 acres, leading to evacuations in much of Mono City and Lundy Canyon.

However, improved weather conditions allowed CalTrans to reopen the highway for one-way traffic. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office also eased evacuation orders, letting residents return home. By 10 a.m. Sunday, the fire covered 726 acres.

Fire crews, including those from Cal Fire and Inyo National Forest, increased containment from 0% to 15% overnight. In a Sunday morning update, officials reported the fire behavior was mostly controlled, although they acknowledged that much work remained.

Containment efforts focused on the north edge of the fire, with bulldozers clearing lines in the brush. Ground crews were digging containment lines manually where the terrain was too rough for heavy equipment. Lisa Cox, a public affairs officer for Inyo National Forest, noted, “We can’t get dozers up on the west flank of the fire. It’s extremely rough territory.”

As of Sunday, there were five helicopters, 16 engines, and 686 personnel assigned to the fire. With mild weather anticipated in the coming days, officials do not expect further road closures or evacuation orders.

Mono Lake, located over 6,300 feet high, is a popular spot for hikers, kayakers, and bird watchers. As visitors flock to the area for the holiday weekend, Cox advised caution. “Slow down; don’t be in a hurry. There’s going to be traffic backup. There are still firefighters working along the entire highway,” she cautioned.

The Inn Fire is one of five active blazes in California, according to Cal Fire, and part of a concerning trend; 27 fires ignited in just the last week, signaling an early onset of California’s fire season.

Fire experts emphasize the increasing challenges wildfires pose due to climate change. According to a recent report from the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfires are becoming more severe and frequent. The average area burned has more than doubled over the past few decades, exacerbating the need for improved fire management and community preparedness.

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