{{Short description|2018 wildfire in Eastern California}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = Georges Fire |partof=the [[2018 California wildfires]] | image = 2018 07 08-23.00.33.713-CDT.jpg | caption = The Georges Fire on July 8, 2018 | reference = <ref name="InciWeb">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5907/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=United States National Forest Service |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=13 September 2018 |language=en |archive-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911163708/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5907/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> <!-- ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL FIRES --> | date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2018|07|08}} – |{{End date|2018|07|18}}}} | location = [[Inyo County, California|Inyo County]] [[California]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|36.646|-118.221|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = USA California | pushpin_map_caption = Location of fire in California. | cost = | area = {{Convert|2883|acre|km2|0}} | buildings = None | cause = Lightning | injuries = None | fatalities = None | landuse = | perps = | motive = }} {{OSM Location map | coord = {{coord|36.646|-118.221}} | zoom = 10 | float = right | width = 250 | height = 200 | caption = Location of Georges Fire | title = | scalemark = 100 | shape1 = image | mark1 = FireIcon.svg | mark-coord1 = {{coord|36.646|-118.221|}} | mark-size1 = 20 | label1 = Georges Fire | label-pos1 = left | label-size1 = 14 |label-color1 = black | label-offset-x1= | label-offset-y1= |mark-title1=Georges Fire }}
The '''Georges Fire''' was a [[wildfire]] in [[Inyo County, California]] in the [[United States]]. The fire was reported on July 8, 2018 in a rural area north of [[Lone Pine, California|Lone Pine]] and west of [[Manzanar, California|Manzanar]]. The fire was started by a [[lightning]] strike and impacted recreational activities in the [[Inyo National Forest]], as well as the habitat for [[Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep]], an endangered species. The fire burned {{convert|2883|acre|km2|0}}, before burning out on July 18.
==Progression==
The Georges Fire was reported on the afternoon of July 8, in a rural area north of [[Lone Pine, California|Lone Pine]] and west of [[Manzanar, California|Manzanar]]. The fire was started by a lightning strike.<ref name="InciWeb7818PM">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Update 070818, evening update - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43810/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711093513/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43810/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The fire started near Georges Creek, which was named after a [[Paiute]] chief.<ref name="IW711AM">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Morning Update for July 11, 2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43917/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712025142/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43917/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> By the evening, the fire had burned {{Convert|750|acre|km2|0}}. Roads accessing the area were closed, with nine crews and a [[DC-10 Air Tanker]] being assigned to the fire.<ref name="InciWeb7818PM"/>
By the next day, July 9, the fire had grown {{Convert|2000|acre|km2|0}} thanks to high winds. Two additional roads were closed and campers and residents in [[Whitney Portal, California|Whitney Portal]] were put on evacuation warnings. Inyo National Forest closed the Whitney Portal and Shepherd Pass Trailheads.<ref name="IW79">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire 070918 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43820/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810021639/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43820/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> That afternoon, Whitney Portal was evacuated.<ref name="WPEvac">{{cite web |title=Whitney Portal Evacuated - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43841/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810021630/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43841/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> That same evening, the fire was declared 10 percent contained, however, the fire continued to grow in the south and west and fire suppression efforts were focused on the south due to the fire's threats to Whitney Portal. The fire's growth on the western end was limited due to a rock face the fire would hit, quieting the fire due to lack of fuels.<ref name="IW7918">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Evening Update 070918 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43846/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810021621/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43846/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On July 10, the [[National Recreation Trail]] was closed from Lone Pine Campground.<ref name="IW910AM">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Morning Update July 10, 2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43871/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711095007/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43871/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="IW710PM">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Evening Update for July 10, 2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43885/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711090350/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43885/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> That evening, thunderstorms provided precipitation to the fire, however the moisture was quickly dried up by warm weather and high winds. On July 11, evacuation orders were lifted for Whitney Portal and Whitney Portal Road, Mt. Whitney Trailhead and Shepherd Pass Trailhead were reopened.<ref name="Reopning711AM">{{cite web |title=Whitney Portal Road, Whitney Portal and Trailhead to Re-open - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43913/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712024544/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43913/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of July 13, favorable weather improved fire conditions, including monsoonal moisture, decreasing the fire's growth and easing the ability of crew's to control it.<ref name="IW713AM">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Morning Update for July 13, 2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43950/ |website=InciWeb |access-date=18 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718210437/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43950/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On July 18, the Georges Fire became inactive, with no new smoke or fire activity reported, with the burn area remaining at {{Convert|2883|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name="InciWeb"/>
==Effects==
The fire primarily impacted areas in the Inyo National Forest, specifically hiking and campgrounds, including the closure of a portion of the [[National Recreation Trail]]. The community of [[Whitney Portal, California|Whitney Portal]] was evacuated and the main road accessing the community was closed during the fire's height. Two additional trails and roads were closed during the fire.<ref name="Reopning711AM"/>
The Georges Fire burned wintering habitats used by the endangered [[Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep]]. The fire has helped clear pinyon and juniper canopy cover. This benefits the sheep, who are preyed upon by mountain lions and other predators who reside in the woodlands.<ref name="IW712AM">{{cite web |title=Georges Fire Morning Update for July 12, 2018 - InciWeb the Incident Information System |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43932/ |website=InciWeb |publisher=US Forest Service |access-date=12 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713014808/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5907/43932/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Usgovpd}}
{{California wildfires}}
[[Category:2018 California wildfires]] [[Category:Inyo National Forest]] [[Category:July 2018 in the United States]] [[Category:Wildfires in Inyo County, California]]