Pack fire spurs evacuations in Mono County; inclement weather grounds firefighting aircraft

Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times on Nov 13, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LOS ANGELES — A wildfire ignited near Crowley Lake in Mono County on Thursday afternoon, quickly growing to 1,000 acres and threatening homes in a nearby trailer park, authorities said.

The blaze, dubbed the Pack fire, was reported at McGee Creek Road west of Highway 395 shortly before 12:30 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire was burning at a "critical rate of spread," growing from three acres to 1,000 within an hour and prompting evacuations around Crowley Lake.

At 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire reported that firefighting aircraft had been grounded due to inclement weather as winds were blowing at 12 to 16 mph out of the south, with gusts up to 24 mph.

An estimated 10 to 20 homes at McGee Trailer Park were threatened by the fire.

Highway 395 in Mono County was closed from Tom's Place to Benton Crossing Road as fire crews worked to get a handle on the blaze, according to the California Department of Transportation. Drivers traveling from Inyo County to northern Mono County or Nevada were advised to use Highway 6 in Bishop as a detour.

Evacuation centers were open at Mammoth Middle School in Mammoth Lakes and at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop.

Fire crews should soon receive assistance with the arrival of rain and possible snow as a winter storm warning is in effect in Mono County from 1 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are predicted along the highest peaks while gusts of up to 50 mph are expected below 8,000 feet.

The Pack fire was burning at around 7,000 feet of elevation.