DUNLAP, Calif. (KFSN) --
Authorities will close Highway 180 at Dunlap Road at 9 a.m. on
Thursday to traffic heading east. The closure is 20 miles from Kings
Canyon National Park just nine miles away from the fire. Highway 245
will also be closed at Dry Creek.Dozens of families in the Dunlap, Miramonte, and Pinehurst are on edge ready to leave after evacuation warnings were put in place because of the Rough Fire. It was fairly calm last night until another fire broke out near Squaw Valley Road -- causing some families to panic. Luckily nearby airtankers from the Rough Fire were able to help suppress this 400 acre fire. But as of Wednesday night, it had not been contained.
Wednesday night hundreds of people gathered at a community meeting asking questions about both nearby fires. Firefighters say if the fire moves past a contingency line near Hume Lake and mandatory evacuations are likely.
"We're very scared actually. We've already made sure we've got a plan to evacuate our animals...and what's important to us out of the house so we can leave," said Tawnee Smith, Dunlap resident.
The Rough Fire is now more than 100-thousand acres.
RELATED: Big Cats and communities on edge as the Rough Fire closes in
Rough Fire Basic Information
Size: 110,134 Acres
Containment: 29 percent
Personnel: 2,167
Weather Concerns: High pressure will remain over Nevada with weak low pressure over the southern California coast. Temperatures will remain warm with very low relative humidity values. Poor to very poor relative humidity recovery will continuer into the weekend. Winds remain terrain and diurnally driven. Inversion and thermal belt will form overnight trapping smoke...otherwise mostly clear highs 80-105. Minimum relative humidity 10 to 25 percent.
Community Meeting Video -Air Quality Today: Heavy concentrations of smoke are expected near the fire today. Smoke will be slow to lift and transport will primarily terrain and diurnally driven. Light and variable transport winds are expected primarily from the southeast, with increased impacts expected in the San Joaquin Valley foothills northwest of the fire. Residual smoke that has not cleared the area, will add to impacts from new smoke being produced. Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions are expected in communities near the fire.
Closures: All campgrounds in Kings Canyon National Park are now closed until further notice. - The Kings Canyon Visitor Center will be open with modified hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. - The General Grant Tree, Panoramic Point, park trails, John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, restaurant, market, and gift shop are open. Ranger programs and hikes have been cancelled due to poor air quality however they may occur if the air quality improves.
Recreation opportunities on the Hume Lake Ranger District have been impacted by the Rough Fire. Stony Creek Village Resort will be open for day use through the Labor Day weekend. Montecito Lake Resort is closed.
