Sierra National Forest forced to partially close as Basin Fire rages on

TONIGHT. THE BASIN FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN IN THE SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST. THE U-S FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCED A PARTIAL CLOSURE OF THE FOREST BECAUSE OF THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OF THE FIRE. THE CLOSURE STARTS AT TRIMMER SPRINGS ROAD AND THE FOREST BOUNDARY LINE, AND CIRCLES BACK TO THAT INTERSECTION. ACTION NEWS REPORTER ANA TORREA IS LIVE AT SIERRA HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE INCIDENT COMMAND POST IS SET UP, AND BREAKS DOWN HOW LONG THIS CLOSURE WILL LAST. THAT PARTIAL FOREST CLOSURE WILL GO INTO EFFECT STARTING TOMORROW, AND IT WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 30-TH OF NEXT MONTH. THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR HOLIDAY AND SUMMER PLANS. FROM THE AIR. HELICOPTERS FLYING WITH WATER AND ON THE GROUND. NATS OF CREWS ROLLING OUT FIREFIGHTERS ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO PUT OUT THE BASIN FIRE HEADING INTO THE NIGHT. ON SATURDAY, CREWS FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS ON THE BALCH CAMP AREA, WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE FLAMES. THEY'RE WORKING REALLY HEAVILY IN THIS AREA, THEY ARE ALSO TAKING DOZER LINES AS CONTINGENCY LINES. WE'RE PUSHING DOZERS AHEAD OF THE FIRE HUNDREDS OF FIREFIGHTERS-- FROM CALIFORNIA TO COLORADO-- ARE ON THE FRONTLINES. NATS OF CREWS ROLLING INTO BASE CAMP. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP BUILDING THIS UNTIL WE ARE AT THE APPROPRIATE SIZE TO MANAGE THIS FIRE STARTING ON SUNDAY, PARTS OF THE SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST WILL BE CLOSED, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WHILE FIREFIGHTERS WORK TO GAIN GROUND ON THE FIRE. SUPERVISOR DEAN GOULD ISSUED THAT ORDER ON SATURDAY. THE AREAS SHADED IN BLACK ON THIS MAP SHOWS THE CLOSED AREA. ULTIMATELY THAT CLOSURE ORDER IS THERE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC BUT IT'S ALSO THERE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE FIREFIGHTERS. MEAGAN BARON AND HER FRIENDS CAME UP FROM SAN FRANCISCO, TO GO CAMPING IN MONO CREEK FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. WHILE THEIR AREA IS NOT AFFECTED, SHE'S KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE CONDITIONS. WE WERE CONCERNED JUST MAKING SURE WE WERE GOING TO BE IN A PLACE THAT WE COULD GO THAT'S NOT CLOSE TO THE FIRE OR IN THE PATH OF THE FIRE BUT THEY ARE PREPARED TO EVACUATE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. WE LOOKED UP THE BURN AREA, CHECKED THE DAILY REPORTS. CALLED THE RANGER. I LOOKED UP WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE IF I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN A CLOSE PLACE TO THE FIRE. LIKE IF SOMETHING CHANGES WHILE WE ARE OUT ON THE TRAIL WITH THE 4-TH OF JULY COMING UP, OFFICIALS ARE STRESSING THIS REMINDER. WE'RE COMING UP ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE ROADS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE ROADS, FOR PEOPLE DRIVING IN THE AREA OF THE BASIN FIRE, TO REALLY BE AWARE OF FIREFIGHTERS PEOPLE WHO IGNORE THE CLOSURE ORDER, CAN FACE A STEEP FINE OF UP TO 10- THOUSAND DOLLARS. OFFICIALS ALSO URGING PEOPLE TO CHECK THE SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST WEBSITE FOR UPDATES. REPORTING LIVE FROM FRESNO COUNTY, ANA TORREA, ABC 30, ACTION NEWS