A fast-moving brush fire near Yosemite National Park exploded in size Saturday into one of California’s largest wildfires of the year, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people and shutting off power to more than 2,000 homes and businesses.
According to the Associated Press, The Oak Fire started Friday afternoon southwest of the park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County and by Saturday morning had rapidly grown to 10.2 square miles (26.5 square kilometers), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. It erupted as firefighters made progress against an earlier blaze that burned to the edge of a grove of giant sequoias in the southernmost part of Yosemite park.
Evacuation orders were put in effect Saturday for over 6,000 people living across a several-mile span in the sparsely populated, rural area, said Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest. “Explosive fire behavior is challenging firefighters,” Cal Fire said in a statement Saturday morning that described the Oak Fire’s activity as “extreme with frequent runs, spot fires and group torching.”
By Saturday morning, the fire had destroyed 10 residential and commercial structures, damaged five others and was threatening 2,000 more structures, Cal Fire said. The blaze prompted numerous road closures, including a shutdown of Highway 140 between Carstens Road and Allred Road — blocking one of the main routes into Yosemite.
“Fire activity is extreme with frequent runs and group torching,” according to Cal Fire. “Vegetation is very receptive to new spot fires due to the hot, dry weather and drought. Heavy fuels, strong winds and low humidity are also influencing fire behavior.” Assisted by several water-dropping helicopters, nearly 400 firefighters are battling the blaze.
Fire officials said it could be a week before the fire is fully contained. Authorities are investigating what caused the blaze, which began in the area of Highway 140 and Carstens Road near Midpines.
By noon Saturday more than 60 people had checked into the evacuation center at Mariposa Elementary School, said Taylor Poisall, spokeswoman for The American Red Cross of the Central Valley.
Beds with privacy screens were set up in the school cafeteria and three daily meals are being served, Poisall said. A pet shelter was also opened at the school by the Central California Animal Disaster Team.
