Clover Fire
Incident: Clover Fire Wildland Fire
Released: 6/1/2008
"Clover" Fire in the South Sierra Wilderness
calls for temporary trail closure
KERNVILLE, CA.... Firefighters are responding to a wildfire today located in the Southern Sierra Wilderness, on the Kern Plateau. The fire is adjacent to a section of the Pacific Crest Trail above Kennedy Meadows. This trail runs from Mexico to Canada, through California, Oregon and Washington. For the safety of the public, temporary trails closures are in effect in the fire area.
On Saturday, May 31, at approximately 11:30, the "Clover" fire was reported to Forest Service Officials by a group of private citizens utilizing a satellite phone. Upon report, a helicopter from the Inyo National Forest responded. The fire appears to have started along the Pacific Crest Trail, approximately 5 miles north of Kennedy Meadows.
Presently over 60 firefighters are flying into the fire area and are being assisted by 1 helicopter. The 40-50 acre fire is burning in Jeffrey pine, mountain mahogany and sage. Scott Williams, District Fire Management Officer on the Kern River Ranger District stated, "Our priority is to stop the southerly spread towards Kennedy Meadows." Williams went on to say, "The fire is surrounded by the south, east and west by the "past" Clover fire of 1980 and is moving in a northerly direction. Vegetation to the north of the fire has had no fire activity for the past 100 years."
The fire is believed to be human-caused and is under investigation. Last week, firefighters responded to the Honeybee Fire, started by lightning, approximately 3 miles to the northeast; however there has been no recent lightning activity in the vicinity of this fire.
Smoke from the fire is visible from Kennedy Meadows and along Highway 395.
For further information, please contact Cindy Thill, Public Affairs Officer, Kern River Ranger District, at (760) 376-3781, extension 625 or by cell at (760) 417-0608.
