Aspen Fire Continues to Grow, Community Meeting Set For Sunday

[Update, Sunday, August 4, 12 p.m.: The fire has grown close to 20,000 acres and is 65 percent contained. Staffing levels have been reduced to about 1,900.]Over 2,000 people are working on the Aspen Fire, which has grown close to 19,000 acres in size and has been 55 percent contained. A third minor injury was reported this morning.

Burning since Monday, July 22, the fire began in Sierra National Forest, several miles north of Big Creek, a small Fresno County mountain community. Evacuations or closures of residents or businesses has not occurred, and popular destinations -- Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, Lake Thomas Edison, Florence Lake, and the Mono Hot Springs areas -- remain open. However, smoke may affect visitor experience.

All trails in Kaiser Wilderness, which the fire has burned into, remain closed, as do 16 campgrounds and Stump Springs Road.

A community meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 4 at 12:30 p.m. Sierra National Forest officials and the Aspen Fire incident commander will talk about the progress of suppression efforts. It will be located at Big Creek Community Church, 55124 Point Rd, Big Creek, CA 93605.

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