14,300-acre Aspen fire burns northeast of Fresno

A fire with a high potential for enlarging continues to burn in an area northwest of Huntington Lake in the Sierra National Forest northeast of Fresno.

The blaze, known as the Aspen fire, has grown over 14,300 acres and is 35% contained, according to a Wednesday morning fire update. The fire is in the Sierras, between Yosemite and Kings Canyon national parks.

Nearly 1,800 people are working to fight the flames. Because the terrain is so steep and rugged, they are using helicopters and air tankers to suppress its immediate expansion while ground teams build “control lines” farther away from the perimeter.

So far, the fire poses no immediate threat to the Big Creek or Huntington Lake communities, according to the update. The areas of Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, Lake Thomas Edison, Florence Lake and the Mono Hot Springs remain open for business.

Officials have ordered 14 campgrounds closed within the national forest. All Kaiser Wilderness trails and Stump Springs Road also were closed.

Local air officials issued a “health cautionary statement” on Tuesday for the San Joaquin Valley.

More than $10 million has been spent so far to fight the fire, which sparked on July 22 because of a lightning strike.

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