Rock Fire
- 100% Contained
- 12,008 Acres
- 1 County: Inyo
07/20/2026 4:50 PM
08/06/2026 6:07 AM
Under Investigation
Inyo National Forest
No team assigned
Black Rock Springs Road and Hwy 395, Poverty Hills
Status reports
Incident Updates
No change to acreage or containment.
The Rock Fire is now 98% contained.
All Evacuation Orders and Warnings have been dropped from the Rock Fire.
The Rock Fire is now 97% contained.
The Rock Fire is 12,008 acres and containment has increased to 95%.
The Rock Fire is 94% contained. Firefighters continue to strengthen containment lines, extinguish remaining hotspots, and repair areas impacted by suppression efforts. Crews remain committed to securing the fire and increasing overall containment.
The Rock Fire is 92% contained.
The Rock Fire is now 90% contained.
The Rock Fire is now 88% contained.
No change to acreage or containment. Firefighters continue to perform suppression repair and mop up operations. Reassignment of excess resources is ongoing, so that firefighters are available for new incidents.
The Rock Fire is now 84% contained.
There are changes to the Evacuation Orders and Warnings.
Firefighters continue to mop up and patrol the Rock Fire and Cinder Complex. No new smokes were detected overnight. Temperatures will climb into the low 100's today.
Crews assigned to the Rock Fire and Cinder Complex continue mopping up and strengthening control lines in challenging terrain. Effective suppression tactics are expected to keep both fires within their current footprints. Fire personnel remain on scene and will continue identifying and extinguishing hot spots within the fire perimeters.
Conditions across the area remain hot and dry with temperatures reaching triple digits. In the afternoon, wind gusts could reach up to 25mph. No thunderstorm activity is expected. These conditions are expected to last through at least mid-week.
Some Evacuation Orders have been reduced to Warnings and some Evacuation Warnings have been lifted.
Activity on both the Rock Fire and Cinder Complex remains minimal. Firefighters are actively patrolling the areas and mopping up remaining hot spots.
Changes have been made to Evacuation Orders and Warnings.
There continued to be minimal fire activity across both the Rock Fire and Cinder Complex Monday. However, unconsumed fuels in the interior of both fires continue to smolder. Firefighters continue mopping up hot spots and patrolling for smoke. Fire suppression repair is underway.
Drier air remains across the region today, with RH dipping to around 10% and temperatures soaring into triple digits. No thunderstorm activity is forecasted through this week. This weather pattern is expected to last for several days.
There was minimal fire activity across the Rock Fire area Sunday. For both the Rock Fire and Cinder Complex, there could still be potential for growth under the right weather conditions. Firefighters continue mopping up hot spots and patrolling for smoke. Fire suppression repair is underway.
Drier air has settled in today and will persist through Monday, bringing a noticeable drop in humidity alongside a light breeze out of the south, with gusts capping out around 15 mph. No thunderstorm activity is forecasted through the start of the workweek.
Neither the Rock Fire nor the Cinder Complex grew overnight. There was very little smoke visible across the Rock Fire area, though there were hot spots in Armstrong Canyon on the northwest side. Over on the Cinder Complex, heat remained along the outer perimeter of the fire. Engines and crews worked through the night patrolling the perimeter and cooling down hot spots.
Today, firefighters are focused on building and strengthening containment lines around the fires while continuing mop-up operations.
Expect southerly winds today through Monday with gusts reaching up to 15 mph, alongside dropping humidity levels. No thunderstorm activity is expected through Monday.
Firefighters made progress today, successfully establishing containment lines around portions of the Cinder Complex. On the Rock Fire, crews have initiated suppression repair operations along the southwest perimeter while Interagency Hotshot Crews have been air lifted into the northwest portion of the fire where they will remain over the next two nights, constructing direct control line on the fire's edge through steep, remote, and inaccessible terrain.
Hot and dry conditions persisted across the incident area today, accompanied by light winds. Temperatures are forecasted to cool down into the 70s overnight and then heat up into the triple-digits tomorrow with low relative humidity.
The Rock Fire showed little to no growth overnight and remains within its current footprint.
Last night’s lightning storm sparked several new fires, which quickly merged into two primary incidents—the 5-4 and 5-3 fires—now collectively known as the Cinder Complex. Because of their proximity, firefighters assigned to the Rock Fire were able to quickly respond to the new starts. Through aggressive firefighting efforts, crews engaged in the fast-moving fires and are continuing to build and reinforce containment lines today.
The weather is hot and dry today, with high temperatures creeping into the low 100s and afternoon humidity dropping into the low teens, along with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
The Rock Fire is now 12,008 acres.
Firefighters made significant progress overnight on the Rock Fire, with the perimeter nearest to Highway 395 showing no visible smoke or active fire activity. In the western portion of the fire, Interagency Hotshot Crews successfully constructed direct handline through challenging granite terrain, while Helitack crews inserted into the northern western portion of the fire cut handline to tie into steep natural granite barriers. Overall, the Rock Fire did not grow overnight, and there was minimal thermal activity detected in Armstrong Canyon. While residual heat remains along the upper crest in the northern and western portions of the fire—leaving potential for fire spread under favorable wind conditions—the overall threat continues to diminish.
There is a 30–40% chance of afternoon thunderstorms today bringing potential for more erratic outflow winds. A drying trend begins Saturday, with minimum afternoon Relative Humidity dropping into the low teens through the weekend.
New Evacuation Orders are in effect.
New Evacuation Warnings have gone into effect.
Around 3 p.m. today, thunderstorm cells moved over the Rock Fire, generating multiple lightning strikes and strong downdrafts that forced several crews to shelter in place.
The lightning activity ignited several new fires on the north end of the incident in the Red Mountain area. The largest of these starts grew to an estimated 200 acres; however, all activity remains west of Highway 395. Firefighters will work through the night to construct containment lines around these new starts. All fire activity remains within established geographic incident objectives.
Earlier in the day, firefighters made steady progress, constructing additional hand line along portions of the fire, including the southern flank. A helitack crew was inserted into the western sector to build containment line, but incoming afternoon thunderstorms forced an evacuation of the area for crew safety. On the northeastern flank, the main fire held within existing containment lines.
High temperatures in the low 100s will produce severe heat conditions, further hindering fire suppression efforts. Additional thunderstorms forecast for Saturday afternoon may pose further safety hazards to personnel and impede line construction.
Firefighters on the ground are experiencing lightning strikes near the Rock Fire perimeter. Crews assigned to the incident are actively responding to and suppressing numerous new fire starts caused by the storm activity.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued an ongoing Flash Flood Warning for northwestern Inyo County, which remains in effect until 7:30 PM PDT this evening. At 5:37 PM PDT, Doppler radar detected thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall across the warned region, with life-threatening flash flooding already occurring or expected to begin shortly. Rapidly rising waters pose a severe danger to creeks, streams, highways, streets, underpasses, and low-lying urban areas. Locations expected to experience flooding include Goodale Creek Campground, Tinemaha Campground, Taboose Creek Campground, and the Rock Fire area. Anyone in or near these locations should exercise extreme caution, move to higher ground immediately, and never attempt to drive across flooded roads.
Firefighters continue making steady progress constructing and strengthening control lines around the perimeter of the Rock Fire. Crews remain actively engaged in tactical patrols around the community of Aberdeen to ensure structures are protected. On the fire's northern flank, increased fire activity is occurring along steep slopes; despite these challenging conditions, crews continue to achieve good operational success in the area. The community of Shingle Mill Bench could still be impacted should weather conditions shift, and firefighters remain vigilant in the area.
Fire Suppression Repair personnel are currently evaluating damage caused by fire suppression activities. Coordination is occurring between USFS and BLM Resource Advisors (READS) and CAL FIRE Fire Suppression Repair Specialists. Work includes the protection of sensitive archaeological sites, restoring impacted waterways and deterrence of unauthorized vehicle access.
CAL FIRE Damage Inspection (DINS) teams are working to identify structures that could have been impacted by fire.
Heavy equipment and emergency personnel continue to operate along the fire perimeter at Highway 395. Drivers are strongly urged to slow down, stay alert, and use caution on the highway to keep our public safety personnel and the community safe.
Conditions are hazy and temperatures across the fire area will hover in the lower to mid-80s and there is a possibility for thunderstorms in the area. The haze is expected to linger in the overnight hours and into Saturday.
Overnight, fire activity on the Rock Fire moderated due to stagnant winds, allowing ground crews to make good progress constructing and strengthening containment lines. Along Highway 395, firefighters continued mop-up operations and identified hot spots. Most of the fire behavior remained isolated to Armstrong Canyon in the northern portion of the fire, where localized torching was observed, alongside a few lingering hot spots just to the north.
Today incident command will focus on inserting Hotshot and Type 1 hand crews into the steep, inaccessible terrain across the northern and northwestern flanks of the fire. Air assets will provide direct support as flight conditions allow to maximize both firefighter safety and operational efficiency.
The weather today will present challenging fire suppression conditions. Firefighters will experience hot temperatures exceeding 100°F, low afternoon relative humidity, and mostly sunny skies. While widespread strong winds are not anticipated, terrain-driven upslope and downslope winds, along with localized gusts from any nearby thunderstorm development, could produce sudden changes in fire behavior.
The Rock Fire was very active today in Division Mike in the Northwest portion but stayed within the control objectives. In the afternoon, the winds changed and aligned with the terrain and made isolated runs. It continues to threaten Shingle Mill Bench and still has the potential to threaten the northern containment lines.
Firefighters made more progress building containment line from Highway 395 up Division Creek Road. Crews continue to mop up and patrol in the community of Aberdeen.
Suppression repair has begun. Fire repair specialists are inspecting the fire area to evaluate damage caused by fire suppression. In the coming days, additional personnel and specialized equipment will be ordered to complete these repairs. This area has a rich fire history, complicated by challenging terrain, unique weather patterns, and culturally sensitive areas.
CAL FIRE Damage Inspection Teams are in the area as part of standard wildfire response protocols, accessing affected areas and determining whether any structures have been impacted by the fire.
Winds will be light overnight with a chance for gusty outflow winds on Friday with highs in the mid-80s across the fire area. Active fire behavior is expected in the afternoon and evening due to hot and dry conditions.
Evacuation Warnings have been updated.
The Rock Fire is 11,645 acres and 20% contained.
Firefighters are building and reinforcing containment lines and making good progress despite operating in extremely challenging terrain. Large portions of the fire ground are exceptionally steep, rocky, and nearly inaccessible. On the West and Northwest flanks within the John Muir Wilderness, numerous drainages are increasing operational complexity. Firefighters are utilizing every available tool, including direct aircraft support and Hotshot hand crews, to access these remote locations and suppress active flames. Meanwhile, crews in Divisions Mike and Whiskey are actively working to secure the most active perimeter of the fire.
Until the North and West flanks are fully secured with established containment lines, a potential threat to the Town of Big Pine remains. As a result, evacuation orders and warnings remain in full effect. Residents are urged to stay vigilant, monitor official channels, and keep roads clear for incoming emergency vehicles.
Afternoon wind shifts and increasing speeds present the highest risk for fire spread, specifically along the Northwest section. Securing these active lines remains the operational priority throughout the peak thermal window each day.
A Forest Closure went into effect for the Inyo National Forest on July 23, 2026.
READ MORE: Forest Order
Evacuation Warnings have been updated.
Firefighters continue to make progress building and reinforcing containment lines in steep and challenging terrain. Crews will continue operations focusing their main efforts of work in the Northwest flank of the fire. Around the fire perimeter, crews are mopping-up up to 200 feet in. There was some active fire overnight in isolated areas but flames stayed well within control lines. Night flying helicopters continued working across the fire and air tankers will continue making retardant drops where necessary during day operations.
CAL FIRE Damage Inspection Teams are in the area as part of standard wildfire response protocols, assessing affected areas and determining whether any structures have been impacted by the fire.
Today’s weather will present challenging fire suppression conditions. Firefighters will experience hot temperatures exceeding 100°F, low afternoon relative humidity, and mostly sunny skies. While widespread strong winds are not anticipated, terrain-driven upslope and downslope winds, along with localized gusts from any nearby thunderstorm development, could produce sudden changes in fire behavior.
The Rock Fire acreage has been updated to 11,970.
Fire crews made significant progress today on constructing and reinforcing containment lines across the Rock Fire incident. Fire activity along the southeast flank has been successfully secured, allowing personnel to transition into perimeter reinforcement and initiate suppression repair in areas where the fire’s edge abuts Highway 395, which continues to hold.
The western flank remains active as the fire has transitioned onto U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management jurisdictions. CAL FIRE remains fully committed to supporting our federal partners on these lands, maintaining an aggressive suppression strategy while prioritizing unified operations and addressing the needs of local communities.
Our primary operational focus remains on the northwest sector of the fire. Ground crews and heavy equipment are working aggressively to fortify control lines in this critical area to eliminate the threat and prevent further impacts to northern communities.
Firefighters will continue working through the night to strengthen containment lines and protect nearby communities. Ground crews, supported by night flying helicopters, will continue suppression efforts as conditions allow.
CAL FIRE Damage Inspection Teams are also in the area as part of standard wildfire response protocols, assessing affected areas and determining whether any structures have been impacted by the fire.
Overnight weather conditions are expected to remain warm with generally light winds, allowing firefighters to continue suppression efforts through the night. Looking ahead to tomorrow, temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 90s with the potential for afternoon winds and isolated thunderstorms. These conditions could increase fire activity and present additional challenges for firefighters working to contain the fire.
A new Rock Fire information line has been established: (760) 350-2742. A new Rock Fire email has been established: 2026.rock@firenet.gov.
The Rock Fire is now 11,141 acres due to more accurate mapping.
The Rock Fire is now 15% contained.
This afternoon, the Rock Fire remains holding within existing containment lines. Due to steep, rugged terrain and limited vehicle access, additional operational resources are being committed to the incident. Interagency Hotshot Crews are being inserted into remote sections of the fireline. Crews will be "spiking out"—establishing primitive camps directly on the line for multiple days—to construct critical handline in hard-to-reach areas.
During afternoon operations, aviation assets will continue active aerial support in Divisions Mike and Whiskey on the fire's northern flank. A warming and drying trend will bring triple-digit temperatures over the next several days. Dropping relative humidity levels and rising temperatures will continue to dry out surrounding vegetation, increasing fuel receptivity. Despite these challenging weather conditions, fire behavior remains moderate with improved visibility as smoke clears, allowing ground crews to make steady progress.
Current conditions on the Rock Fire.
Firefighters remain focused on perimeter containment and structure protection. The fire progressed, however it stayed within existing control lines. Active fire behavior is expected in the afternoon and evening as temperatures rise and relative humidity drops. The fire continues to burn through heavy brush and grass, pushing onto steeper slopes into timber, but hasn’t progressed further.
The monsoonal moisture pattern has weakened and the weather is moving towards higher temperatures for the duration of the week. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect, and residents are urged to adhere to them. If winds strengthen, fire activity could increase, potentially necessitating additional evacuations.
Communities and infrastructure near Birch Creek, Fish Springs, Tinnemaha Campground, Baxter Ranch, and the Perlite Mine remain threatened.
Today strong northern winds continued to push Rock Fire flames toward Birch Creek, Fish Springs, Tinemaha Campground, Baxter Ranch, and the Perlite Mine area. The fire has moved into several campgrounds and is directly abutting campsites and impacting power lines; however, no injuries, structure losses, or property losses have been reported. Joint air and ground resources are actively coordinating suppression and structure protection efforts wherever safety allows.
Firefighters face environmental and terrain obstacles. The fuels consist primarily of rabbit brush, sage brush, and salt grass interspersed with sharp lava rock, which prevents bulldozers from accessing major portions of the fire perimeter. Firefighters are also dealing with complex local wind patterns: the diurnal shift typically pushes the fire southwest and upslope to the north in the morning, followed by a dramatic 180-degree pivot back to the south between 2:00pm and 4:00pm.
The overnight strategy leverages lighter wind conditions to secure the heel of the fire, ensuring it does not outflank crews when the wind direction turns again.
The Rock Fire is exhibiting intense and erratic fire behavior, due to strong, battling winds from the south and the north.
The Rock Fire remains active today as strong winds continue pushing the fire toward the Birch Creek, Fish Springs, Tinemaha Campground, Baxter Ranch, and Perlite Mine areas. Firefighters are working to protect threatened communities and critical infrastructure while utilizing both ground and aerial resources as conditions allow.
Thunderstorms and lightning continue to impact the incident, creating hazardous conditions for firefighters. For the safety of personnel, crews may temporarily disengage from direct firefighting operations when lightning is present. Firefighters will resume suppression efforts as soon as conditions are safe.
Residents and visitors in the area should remain vigilant, be prepared for changing fire conditions, and continue to monitor updates. If you are in or near impacted areas, be ready to act should evacuation warnings or orders be issued.
The Rock Fire is now 5,500 acres.
The Rock Fire is now 2,500 acres.
The Rock Fire is now 1,795 acres. Fire perimeter mapped by sensor aircraft.
Evacuations have been updated for the Rock Fire. Acreage size has increased to 1,443 acres due to high wind gusts in the area. Threat to structures and critical infrastructure. Significant augmentation of air and ground resources.
Acreage has increased to 1,200 acres.
Evacuations are in place for the Rock Fire. For updates follow: Ready Inyo
Per IC, fire is approximately 100 acres. Moderate rate of spread (MROS) with threat to structures and powerlines. Closure of HWY 395 south.
New incident in Inyo County - Rock Fire is 20 acres with critical rate of spread (ROS). Fire is spotting up to 5 miles ahead of itself.
Contact Information
Rock Fire Information Line
(760) 350-2742
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