Another evacuation order has been handed down over the weekend as the Sequoia Complex (SQF Complex) continues to grow.
On Sunday, September 13th, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux issued a new mandatory evacuation order for following area:
- Highway 190 along the south, from the intersection at Balch Road north to Blue Ridge Lookout east to Moses Mountain, and south to Highway 190 at Mahogany Flat
This order comes after the SQF Complex made a big push west overnight.
The following communities remain under an evacuation order:
- Doyle Springs
- Balch Park
- Blue Ridge
- Camp Nelson
- Coy Flat
- Mountain Aire
- Pier Point
- Alpine Village
- Sequoia Crest
- Redwood Drive
- Ponderosa
- Cedar Slopes
- Pyles Boys Camp
A Mandatory Evacuation Order means there is immediate threat to life and/or property. Those who live in these areas must leave now.
The sheriff has also issued a voluntary evacuation warning for the following area:
- Balch Park to Three Rivers along South Fork
An evacuation warning is not an official order to leave, but there is a potential threat to life or property.
If you have pets, livestock or need more time to evacuate, you should leave now.
The SQF Complex is a combination of the Castle and Shotgun Fires currently active in Tulare and Inyo Counties.
The several hundred acre Shotgun fire burning 5 miles northwest of the Castle Fire in the Sequoia National Forest.
A small portion of the Castle Fire is also burning in the Inyo National Forest.
The SQF Complex is burning 74,304 acres and is 12% contained as of Sunday morning.
As of Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service reports that both fires are less than a mile south of the Sequoia National Park boundary.
U.S. Forest Service officials say dry conditions and high temperatures paired with low humidity have helped the fire grow.
ANIMAL EVACUATIONS:
Large animals in South County can be taken to the Porterville Fairgrounds, located at 2700 Teapot Dome Ave.
For North County, large animals can be taken to the Woodlake Fair/Rodeo grounds, located at 19400 Avenue 398.
For domestic animals there is the Emergency Response trailer loaded and ready for use in North or South County.
There is space for domestic animals at the Tulare County Animal Shelter at 14131 Avenue 256 in Visalia.