TOPSHOT - A forest is incinerated by the Oak Fire near Midpines, northeast of Mariposa, California, on July 23, 2022. The California wildfire ripped through thousands of acres July 23 after being sparked a day earlier, as millions of Americans sweltered through scorching heat with already record-setting temperatures due to climb. (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
Mono Lake, California – A fast-moving wildfire dubbed the Inn Fire has scorched more than 700 acres near Mono Lake, forcing evacuations and shutting down a major highway just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, a peak travel period for the region.
The fire ignited Thursday afternoon around 3:36 p.m. local time, approximately 60 miles east of Yosemite National Park, amid dry, gusty conditions. By nightfall, it had already consumed over 500 acres, prompting multiple firefighting agencies to respond rapidly.
Approximately 300 people have been evacuated so far, including residents of Mono City, an unincorporated community near the Nevada border. The Mono Inn restaurant and Tioga Lodge hotel, popular stops along Highway 395, were also evacuated. So far there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities, though one structure has sustained damage, according to InciWeb, a federal incident information system.
“Evacuations and repopulations will not occur until this northern flank of the fire is secured by firefighters and the predicted winds out of the south no longer threaten this community with potential spot fires,” said Lisa Cox, public affairs officer for the USDA Forest Service.
Fire crews from Inyo National Forest, CAL FIRE, the Bureau of Land Management, and local departments from Mammoth Lakes and Mono City are working on containment, with help from hotshot crews, helicopters, and air tankers. Helicopters have been scooping water from Mono and Lundy lakes, while retardant drops continue in less sensitive areas.
US 395 — a crucial artery for access to Yosemite — remains closed between Lee Vining and Mono City due to downed power lines and unsafe driving conditions. The Mono County Tourism board posted detour routes on social media, but authorities expet the closure to remain in place through the weekend.
Officials say the fire is burning through a landscape dominated by sagebrush and is spreading slowly northward. Winds, which had gusted up to 35 mph on Thursday, have calmed somewhat but remain unpredictable. The National Weather Service noted wind gusts of up to 17 mph on Friday, with the possibility of erratic gusts due to thunderstorms over the weekend.
The cause of the Inn Fire is still under investigation.
The fire comes as Yosemite and the surrounding region are preparing for a surge in visitors. Last year, Yosemite National Park drew over 4 million visitors, and the Memorial Day holiday typically marks the start of the summer tourism season.
