Favorable weather allows firefighters to directly fight Rough fire

A weeks-old wildfire that has now burned across 60 square miles was bearing down Friday on a popular recreational lake near Kings Canyon National Park in California, officials said.

Crews from all over the country, including right here at Fort Stewart, are coming to the rescue, helping to put out that now three-week old fire.

More than 2,500 campers, hikers, employees and residents were notified and safely evacuated from Hume Lake Christian Camp, private cabins, campgrounds, and the surrounding area in just over 2 1⁄2 hours. Park staff continues to work closely with the Rough Fire Incident Management Team to monitor fire activity. Also on Thursday crews divided management of the fire into two commands, one for the Hume Lake area and another on the fire’s western flank near Balch Camp. Company spokesperson Denny Boyles says they don’t expect the fire to cause any impacts to electric reliability.

Flames have run through grass on steep hillsides and ridges keeping more than 1,600 firefighters busy tackling the fire that was sparked by lightning July 31 in Fresno County.

Authorities say they’re searching for a 62-year-old woman separated from a group of hikers in smoke-filled mountains east of Fresno. The National Guard is participating, and some active duty military are getting last minute training to join by Sunday. These homes are located northeast of Dunlap in small communities known as Crabtree, Sampson Flat, Davis Flat and Clover Meadows.

New Jersey is sending an additional 20 members of the state’s Forest Fire Service and Forestry Services to help battle massive wildfires burning in portions of the Northwest, officials announced Friday.

Conditions in the area are warm and dry but not extreme for fire danger. When the fire crossed the highway Tuesday, the Hume Lake area was evacuated. “We had nearly record level temperatures that coupled with winds with fuels that are already stressed it makes for the ideal storm for fire growth”.