Large Wildfire Prompts Evacuations in Central California

The blaze burning in Bishop, Calif., was quickly controlled by local fire crews.

White Mountain Fire Department crews quickly controlled a wildfire in Central California that started on March 30, 2025. White Mountain Fire Department

Fire crews quickly stopped the progress on March 31 of a wildfire burning on farmland in Central California that quickly grew to 1,250 acres near the Nevada border.

“We’ve got everything settled down,” White Mountain Fire Chief Dave Doonan told The Epoch Times on Monday morning.

Firefighters from the rural community in Inyo County used a lot of equipment right away to knock out the growing blaze that started at about 2 p.m. on Sunday, even though aircraft had to be grounded Sunday night because of strong winds, Doonan said.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), on Sunday, evacuations were ordered for Laws in Inyo County, Chalfant in Mono County, and the White Mountain Estates neighborhood around the fire zone.

The Bishop Senior Center was available for evacuees, and animals could be housed at the TriCounty Fair Grounds in Bishop.

The fire also threatened cultural and heritage sites in the area, including the Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical significance to the Eastern Sierra and its pioneers, including railroad builders, miners, and packers.

Flames fueled by strong winds in the area on Monday damaged some farm equipment and spared structures, and there were no reported injuries near the small town of Bishop, California, about 270 miles north of Los Angeles.

“As of this morning, there was basically very little smoke or threat,” Doonan said. “As of right now, there is no forward progress. I think we’re on the downhill side here.”

Cal Fire reported that fire officials were still investigating the cause of the blaze, which was labeled the Silver Fire and started along Highway 6 near Silver Canyon Road.

According to Doonan, strike teams arrived from Southern California Sunday night to help extinguish the fire. They remained on the fire Monday but are expected to be relieved by local fire crews on Tuesday.

White Mountain firefighters are planning to stay on the fire for a couple of days until it is completely extinguished.

White Mountain Fire Department contained a quickly growing fire in Bishop, Calif., by March 31, 2025. White Mountain Fire Department

Fire crews were fighting strong southwest winds on Monday. With the oncoming storm, they hoped to receive some rain to help with firefighting efforts.

The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning for the fire area until 9 p.m. Monday. Forecasters expect winds to range from 25 to 35 mph in the region, with gusts of 55 to 65 mph on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range and Owens Valley, where Bishop is located.

Aircraft were grounded on March 30, 2025, because of strong winds, but were able to attack the Silver Fire in Bishop, Calif., on March 31. 2025. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

“Stronger gusts [are] possible along exposed ridgelines in the Sierra,” the weather service reported Monday.

The state reopened Highway 6 on Monday.