Calm winds and massive efforts by fire teams in recent days led to increased containment of the Piute FIre and the cancelation of two recommended evacuations near the burn area. Unfortunately the forces of nature enabled the fire to rebound today with sometimes spectacular visual effects.
A new and vigorous fire plume was visible above Piute Mountain near Twin Oaks just before noon. Dark smoke in the plume gave evidence to the flames reaching tall timber in the burn area.
When viewed from Walker Basin, the plume appeared to be generated by aggressive flames in the forest above Thompson Canyon, and the wind was driving the smoke across Walker Basin.
Later in the afternoon shifting winds began to blow smoke back over Piute Mountain towards the South as seen in the photo from near Twin Oaks.
