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Oak Fire: Fast-moving flames force more Mariposa County residents to evacuate
At least one structure destroyed
A fire that sparked Friday afternoon in Mariposa County has forced immediate evacuations for nearby residents, officials said.
The Oak Fire started sometime after 2:30 p.m. near Highway 140 and Carstens Road by the community of Midpines, east of Modesto. Throughout the day, the fire has been spreading at a threatening pace. A news helicopter spotted at least one structure engulfed in flames later in the evening, and several other structures close to flames.
Embers also continue to spread and cause more spot fires, making it difficult for crews to establish containment lines, a perimeter made of either natural or manmade fire lines that help prevent the continued spread of a wildfire. As of 9:56 p.m., there is no known containment.
There were reports of people without cars trapped in the evacuation zone, but KCRA 3 has learned that law enforcement officials were able to help them out.
The Fire Integrated Real Time Intelligence System, or FIRIS, reported that at least 1,745 acres as of 5:10 p.m., which differs from what Cal Fire, the state's fire management agency, reported: at least 1,300 acres burned as of 5:40 p.m. Regardless, that acreage is up from 611 acres burned at 4:40 p.m. At 3:40 p.m., the number of acres burnt was 60.
FIRIS, a helicopter program originally under the Orange County Fire Authority in Southern California, is now considered a state program under the California Office of Emergency Services. The program tweeted that it will be making that transition over the next six months.
One of the main roads to Yosemite, Highway 140, is now closed due to the fire. Drivers trying to get to the national park will have to go through Highway 120 at this time.
The fire is about 30 miles away from Yosemite Valley. The national park was threatened recently by the Washburn Fire, but crews have managed to protect the cherished sequoias in Mariposa Grove from getting burned.
Oak Fire evacuation orders, shelters and road closures
See a map of current evacuations here.
Evacuation orders are issued when there is an immediate threat to life, and you are lawfully required to leave.
Road closures
- Hwy 140 from Allred Rd to Ponderosa Way
- Carstens Rd
- Triangle Rd from Hwy 140 to Hwy 49 and all side roads
- Buckingham Mt. Rd
- Plumbar Creek Rd.
- Jerseydale Rd
- Silva Road from Cole Road and Triangle Road
- Wass Rd
- Tip Top Rd
- Darrah at Cole Rd
- Westfall from Triangle to Oliver Creek
Evacuation centers for displaced residents
- Mariposa Elementary School - 5044 Jones Street
- Sierra Foothill Charter School - 4952 School House Road, Cathey's Valley, CA 95306
Large animals can be sheltered at the Mariposa Fair Grounds, while small animals can be dropped off at the Mariposa Elementary School.
Oak Fire may head toward Ferguson Fire burn scar
KCRA 3 Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan is tracking the path of the Oak Fire. While it may have started near the community of Midpines, it is burning eastward toward the community of Darrah.
There are several homes there threatened.
If it continues going the direction is has been since it started, it may lose some fuel if it hits the burn scar caused by the Ferguson Fire in 2018. If that happens, the fire may slow down, giving firefighters some reprieve.
The Ferguson Fire left two firefighters dead and injured 19 others. At the height of the fire, more than 3,000 people from across the globe were assigned to extinguish the wildfire.
According to Sierra National Forest officials, 96,901 acres were torched and 10 structures were destroyed.
Northern California fire agencies head out to help fight against Oak Fire
The Cosumnes Fire Department said crews from its agency and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District are heading to the Oak Fire to help on the front lines.
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