Shaver Lake locals monitor Garnet Fire as it pushes further north

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- As the Garnet Fire spread north on Wednesday, Dinkey Creek Campground closed to the public and the site was set up for fire crews.

The U.S. Forest Service said it needed the area so fire crews can spend less time driving on the road from the main base camp at Avocado Lake -- and more time fighting the flames.

"Also, it provides a pretty significant safety factor," said Jay Tracy, Fresno City Fire Deputy Fire Marshall. "You're talking four or five hours on the road in an engine after you've been working all day, it's not conducive to being as safe as we could and so the decision was made to move some folks up here."

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The lakeside and downtown were much quieter after the Labor Day weekend, which locals expect every year. Jerry Sandstrom, owner of the Sierra Marina, says the emptiness likely has more to do with the season than the fire.

"The way we put it, we get the lake back because now its all local people," said Jerry Sandstrom, Sierra Marina owner.

His family has owned and operated the marina for 40 years. He was here for the Creek Fire that devastated the mountain community five years ago.

While Sandstrom isn't worried about the Garnet fire reaching his area, he said he always keeps a close eye on the fire activity.

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"We always are concerned with a forest fire and this is pretty far south of us and since the Creek Fire burned off so much of our forest here we're not really that concerned about it, but you never know, fire is so fickle," said Sandstrom. "You just never know where it's gonna go."

Garnet Fire response spokesperson Jay Tracy encourages people to remain aware. He said the fire isn't highly anticipated to reach the Shaver Area, but it is possible.

"So there is a possibility if it blows through our primary lines and our back up and then goes through contingency lines and we get a really erratic weather event that comes through, we do get some more dry lightening that starts another fire, so there always a potential, we never say never anymore than we say always," said Tracy.

Fire crews were set up at the Shaver Lake Community Center on Wednesday afternoon to answer any questions people in the community might have about the fire. They will be stationed there throughout the week.

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