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Fire in Lee Vining Canyon
May 29-31, 2000
 In the morning on May 29, 2000, a wildfire broke out in Lee Vining
Canyon, near route 120 to Yosemite. The cause is unknown and under
investigation but suspected to be human-caused, possibly a campfire.
The fire was not the result of any prescribed burn activity.
Currently, the fire has burned 740 acres and is 80% contained, with
full containment expected by May 31. Gusty winds spread the fire,
which closed Highway 395 for a period of time on the 29th.
No structures were burned, or people injured, but the fire came
quite close the the Forest Service Ranger Station and the Mobil
station. Generally, it burned the south moraine slopes in Lee Vining
Canyon, going up and over the top to Horse Meadow. It also burned
eastward from the moraine crest, and jumped Highway 395, burning a
small area east of the highway.
Six hand crews, twelve fire engines, five water tenders, and two
helicopters are working on controlling the blaze today. Many local
fire agencies have been involved in the effort.
Happily, the winds did not push the fire north into Lee Vining, but
the fire was only a mile away! Avid Mono Lake
WebCam watchers noticed the smoke in Sunday's WebCam images.
These pictures of the fire at various times on the May 29 and
30.
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