Slinkard Fire west of Topaz closes Highway 395 at state line, evacuations north of Topaz Lane

UPDATE FRIDAY 2:15PM: Voluntary evacuations are underway west of Topaz, Calif., according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Sierra Front reports the fire, believed to have started by lightning on Tuesday, has burned an estimated 7,200 acres and is zero percent contained as of Friday afternoon.

Topaz has been evacuated north of Highway 89 to the Nevada state line. For public safety, State Route 89 remains closed between U.S. Hwy. 395 and State Route 4 at Monitor Pass. Highway 395 is closed from the junction of State Route 182 in Bridgeport to the Nevada state line. However, Highway 395 will be open with highway patrol escort when safe. A detour is in place for Highway 395 and access to Bridgeport remains open.

Numerous resources are on order including hand crews, which are a critical need, and air resources. The fire is located in Slinkard Valley and the west slope of Antelope Valley, west of Topaz in Mono County, Calif. The fire is burning in cheat grass, sagebrush and pinyon/juniper.

There are four hand crews, 51 engines, 8 aircraft, four water tenders, 2 dozers and support staff assigned to the fire. A Type 2 Incident Management Team is en route. This is a lightning-caused fire.
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UPDATE 4:12PM: Nevada Highway Patrol and California Hwy Patrol are working traffic control for the Slinkard Fire in Topaz near the state line of Nevada and California. It has burned an estimated 6,500 acres. North of the fire, Hwy 395 is closed in both directions at Hwy 208. South of the fire, Hwy 395 is closed both directions at Hwy 182 in Bridgeport, Calif.
In Topaz Ranch Estates, Hwy 208 is now open.
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UPDATE 320PM: The Slinkard has burned 6,241 acres thus far, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch. Nevada Highway Patrol and CHP are working traffic control for the Slinkard Fire in Topaz near the state line of Nevada and California. North of the fire, Hwy 395 is closed for both directions at Leviathan Mine Road, which is south of Gardnerville. Residents may pass with proper ID.
South of the fire, Hwy 395 is closed both directions at Hwy 182 in Bridgeport, Calif. In Topaz Ranch Estates, Hwy 208 is closed at Granite Way. Residents may pass with proper ID. As of this afternoon, Douglas County School District transportation is running as usual.
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UPDATE 1:48PM: Nevada Highway Patrol and CHP are working traffic control for the Slinkard Fire in Topaz near the state line of Nevada and California. North of the fire, US395 is closed in both directions at Leviathan Mine Road, south of Gardnerville.
South of the fire, US395 is closed both directions at Hwy 182 in Bridgeport, Calif. In Topaz Ranch Estates, Hwy 208 is closed at Granite Way.
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UPDATE 12:30PM: Evacuations remain ordered north of Topaz Lane, according to the Mono County Sheriff's Office. Highways 395 and 89 remain closed in the fire vicinity. Use CA182/NV338 as a detour. Local traffic may be allowed north from Bridgeport at the discretion of CalTrans and/or CHP.

UPDATE 11AM: Residents in the evacuated area of the Slinkard Fire can return to their homes, according to the Douglas County via Twitter. IDs will be required and conditions could change rapidly.
The Slinkard Fire is estimated to be 5,000 acres with 0 percent containment as of Thursday. The fire has burned to Highway 395 and crossed Highway 89 to the north, according to incident command.
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Highway 395 at the state line is closed and voluntary evacuations are underway for residents in the Topaz, Holbrook, and Spring Valley areas due to a wildfire burning west of Topaz, Calif., authorities said.

The Slinkard Fire began Tuesday afternoon and as of Thursday morning has burned an estimated 4,700 acres with no containment, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

By Wednesday night the fire was dangerously close to homes and the highway. Evacuations in Mono County were ordered Wednesday night from Topaz Lane north to the state line. Douglas County is taking evacuees to the Douglas County Community and Senior Center while Mono County residents were advised to go to the Walker Community Center.

Highways 395 and 89 remain closed. Updates will be posted as they become available at CarsonValleyTimes.com.