Slinkard Fire on Hwy. 395 continues to grow
The Slinkard Fire is estimated to be 9,00 acres with 12 percent containment as of early Friday night.
Topaz has been evacuated north of Highway 89 to the Nevada state line.
For public safety, Highway 89 remains closed between highways 395 and 4 (at Monitor Pass). Highway 395 is closed from the junction of Highway 182 in Bridgeport to the Nevada state line. However, Highway 395 will be open with highway patrol escort when safe.
Liberty Utilities is getting ready to re-energize the damaged line.
“All customers in the Topaz-Coleville-Walker area should have power restored by 5pm if this works. If it fails because there’s more damage than we can see and access), then we’ll fire up the temporary generator we’re currently installing,” Kathy Carter with Liberty said.
The fire is located in Slinkard Valley and the west slope of Antelope Valley, west of Topaz in Mono County, California. The fire is burning in cheat grass, sagebrush and pinyon/juniper.
Lightning started the fire earlier this week.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report