Fire
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This post was updated at 2:30 a.m. PST on Monday, November 17, 2025, with the latest information from CalFire.
The Pack Fire burning near Crowley Lake on the eastern slope of California’s Sierra Nevada, about 20 miles east of Mammoth Mountain, is currently burning 3,000 acres and is 56% contained as of Sunday evening, according to Cal Fire.
The wildfire ignited Thursday afternoon near McGee Creek Road, west of Highway 395, under strong winds and dry conditions. Officials reported gusts up to 30 mph, which grounded firefighting aircraft and complicated suppression efforts through much of Thursday.
By Friday, light precipitation and cooler temperatures slowed fire activity, allowing crews to make some progress. By Sunday night, the fire had destroyed 28 structures, damaged five, with a further 1,126 under threat. A total of 795 personnel are currently assigned to the Pack Fire, including 58 engines, six water tenders, 27 hand crews, and 84 other support resources, with numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow. There have been zero casualties or deaths reported.
Mono County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation orders, with just six areas now under evauation warnings. A community meeting took place on November 15 and can be viewed on YouTube.
A closure order is in effect from November 16, 2025, through February 28, 2026, encompassing National Forest System lands within a detailed boundary. This boundary starts at the junction of the Inyo Forest boundary and Forest Road 4S47 (Tobacco Flat Road), extends west to Forest Road 4S48, follows southeasterly to the John Muir Wilderness boundary near McGee Mountain, then south past McGee Mountain toward Buzztail Spring, continuing east to Forest Trail 29E42 in the Hilton Creek drainage, and from there north along various forest roads and boundaries back to the starting point. This closure includes all roads and trails within these areas to ensure public safety and firefighter access while hazards from the wildfire are present. Exemptions apply only to persons with special Forest Service permits or official emergency responders. Violations can result in fines up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment up to six months.
“Situation Summary
Ground resources continued constructing direct control lines, addressing potential threats to critical infrastructure, and conducting mop-up operations within impacted communities.
Suppression repair teams are actively identifying measures to reduce potential impacts from current and forecasted weather.
Utility companies are evaluating and mitigating damage to affected infrastructure, and Damage Inspection Teams have completed their assessments.
Accurate acreage estimates remain challenging due to poor weather conditions, which currently prevent the safe use of aircraft. Steep terrain and adverse weather have also limited crews’ ability to validate fire perimeters from the ground.
Evacuation Shelters are now closed. Anyone needing assistance can contact the Mono County Emergency Management Department at 760-924-4633.”
– Cal Fire
The fire’s cause remains under investigation. The incident is being managed under unified command by Cal Fire’s San Bernardino-Inyo-Mono Unit, the Bureau of Land Management, the Long Valley Fire Protection District, and the Mono County Sheriff’s Office.
The Pack Fire erupted as much of the Sierra Nevada experienced unsettled weather and delayed ski resort openings due to warm, dry conditions. While the region’s primary fire season typically peaks in summer, fire officials noted that Inyo and Mono counties often face heightened wildfire risk from November through March.
Evacuation shelters were established at Mammoth Lakes Middle School and the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop for displaced residents.
“This part of the Sierra is entering its most active fire period,” Cal Fire spokesperson Alison Hesterly said Thursday, noting that the combination of wind, dry fuel, and transitional weather is making a difficult job harder. “It’s challenging conditions for the firefighters.”
Photos of the Pack Fire near Mammoth Mountain
