The very-popular Alabama Hills, a dispersed camping area in the Eastern Sierra Mountains of California, is now closed for all camping due to a CodeRED Alert as a result of the nearby Alabama Fire. The Inyo County Sheriff is now ordering all existing campers and recreationists to evacuate the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area near Lone Pine, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office.
The BLM, in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol, Inyo County Sheriff, Inyo National Forest and CalFire directed outdoor enthusiasts to leave the Alabama Hills and advised them not to return until the fire danger has subsided.
The Alabama Fire is being managed under Unified Command by the CalFire San Bernardino/Inyo/Mono Unit and the Inyo National Forest. According to CalFire, the incident was sparked by lightening earlier today (Friday, June 18, 2021) near the intersection of the Whitney Portal Road and Hogback Road. It has burned approximately 230 acres as of this publishing, including some federal public land, with no containment.
BLM-managed public lands in the Alabama Hills are within the jurisdiction of the Bishop Field Office, yet are designated as CalFire’s Direct Protection Area. This agreement authorizes CalFire, as a state agency, to assume the primary responsibility for attacking wildland fire and suppression actions on BLM-managed public lands.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning and Excessive Heat Warning for the Lone Pine area with high temperatures, gusty winds and a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.
The public is advised to stay informed on wildland fire danger and beware of emergency vehicles and firefighters, which may be utilizing roadways during an emergency. Never drive into smoke, which can obscure your view and always practice One Less Spark – One Less Wildfire.
I’m very saddened to read this. Alabama hills became a quick favorite of mine a year ago. I live about 4 hours away and am in a cancer treatment program, so it makes for a good destination…not to mention the beauty and splendor there! I’m thankful of these actions being taken as I live in a National Forrest area. It’s appreciated and should be better controlled during this unprecedented drought crisis! I am hoping to return when restrictions are lifted. Is there a way of linking to this information? *Note; I haven’t been to Alabama Hills this summer because of the higher than normal temperatures we’ve been having in the state. Looking for recommendations not far from San Bernardino Mountains for Boondocking. My current medical condition has me wanting my space from others. Thank you!
August 21, 2021 at 10:32 amThis information is no longer correct and should be taking down.
January 14, 2023 at 2:07 pmYou should know that BLM’s Bishop Field Office enacted a 28 day per year limit on dispersed camping. This applies to a HUGE area, from Topaz, NV to Ridgecrest, CA. It seems to be enforced mainly near the town of Bishop. Inyo Natl Forest just changed their dispersed camping limits to mirror BLM’s, so its now 28 days per year within the entire forest- no jumping from Mammoth to White Mt Districts, etc. I’m boycotting the Eastern Sierra for this reason, although it was my home for many years.
September 17, 2023 at 8:28 am