What we know about the Creek Fire: Where it started, latest evacuations in California
The Creek Fire has been burning since sparking Friday evening, Sept. 4 in Fresno County, and the next day crossed the San Joaquin River to the east and made a run into the Mammoth Pool area in Madera County.
The Creek Fire as of the morning update on Friday, Sept. 14 had burned 248,256 acres and was at 20% containment, according to Cal Fire.
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»» See photos and video from the Creek Fire near Shaver Lake, Mammoth Pools Reservoir
Where did the Creek Fire start?
The Creek Fire started near Big Creek and Huntington Lake in Fresno County (see the map below).
At a news briefing Sunday afternoon, Sept. 6 near Shaver Lake, Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, who represents areas in the eastern part of the county including Big Creek, Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake, said the fire was nearly controlled before it exploded.
“When it was first discovered it was only 3 acres,” Magsig said. “Aircraft were deployed to knock the fire down. They thought they had it pretty well handled. It was knocked down to less than an acre. But within a matter of really just a handful of minutes the fire exploded and was up to 300 acres.”
Potential full containment date
The U.S. Forest Service says a date for expected full containment is Oct. 15, 2020.
The wildfire continues to burn on both sides of the San Joaquin River near Mammoth Pool, Shaver Lake, Big Creek and Huntington Lake.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. As of Friday, Sept. 18, there were roughly 3,000 firefighters on the line in Fresno and Madera counties.
Where is the wildfire spreading?
Fresno County: Fire behavior was centered around Huntington Lake around China Peak, while also expected to progress toward Florence Lake and the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, according to Cal Fire.
Madera County: Work continues on the west flank to fortify contingency lines and to protect assets such as Central Camp and the Bass Lake area. The tactics deployed in this area will provide options for our firefighting operations depending on how the fire reacts to the changing weather conditions in this area. Preparations continue for the community of Mammoth Lakes as winds push the Creek Fire to the northeast.
Nightly update
Sierra National Forest, via Facebook live, broadcasts updates throughout the week on the Creek Fire’s progress, evacuations and other developments.
You can find the link, calendar notices of upcoming sessions, archived broadcasts of past updates and additional information here.
Air quality alert
People can use the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) to track air quality at any Valley location by visiting myRAAN.com.
Evacuation orders, warnings
Orders
Fresno, Madera counties: The evacuation map of Creek Fire evacuations for Fresno and Madera counties is available online: https://bit.ly/2FIvz03
Warnings
Fresno County: Community of Prather, south of Little Sandy / Lodge Rd., northeast of Tollhouse Rd., north of Millerton Rd. / Nicholas Rd., east Auberry Rd.
Madera County: O’Neals, Walker Grade, and Fish Camp. Updates are available on the Merced County Sheriff Facebook page.
Road closures
Fresno County: Prather Roundabout, Tollhouse Road at Pittman Hill Road, Maxon Road at Trimmer Springs Road, Auberry Road at Jose Basin Road, Watts Valley Road at Maxon Road, SR-168 at Lodge Road.
Madera County: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MaderaSheriff/posts/?ref=page_internalRoad 222 at 229A, Road 222 at Road 235, Road 225 at Road 274, Road 233 at Peckinpah Acres, Road 274 from Beasore Road to Central Camp, Road 632 at Buckskin (check the Facebook page for updates).
How many homes, structures have been damaged or destroyed?
Cal Fire lists 804 residential, commercial or other structures destroyed and 67 damaged.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is contacting property owners directly, and Fresno County has set up a website for properties that have been assessed, while cautioning that information is often preliminary.
“Learning the status of a property during a disaster can evoke a strong emotional response,” a Fresno County news release stated. “Support is available.”
That includes a 24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 or via text TalkWithUs to 66746. In-person counseling is available at the evacuation point at the Clovis North/Granite Ridge campus.
For additional resources, visit https://www.co.fresno.ca.us/departments/public-health/fresno-county-emergency.
There are more than 8,600 structures still threatened by the Creek Fire.
Temporary evacuation points
Fresno County: Clovis North High School, 2770 East International Ave., Fresno
Animal evacuation centers
Fresno County: Small animals – Clovis North High School; 2770 E International Ave, Fresno. Large animals – The Fresno Fairgrounds (1121 S. Chance Ave, Fresno) is set up to receive evacuated animals, but please contact the Central California Animal Disaster Team (888-402-2238) to finalize arrangements.
Madera County: Small animals – Oakhurst Community Center 39800 Road 425B, Oakhurst. Large animals – Producer’s Livestock Facility at Madera Farm Bureau, Madera.
An Evacuation Order means an immediate threat to life and/or property. These are mandatory.
An Evacuation Warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. Those with animals or who otherwise might need longer to evacuate are encourage to prepare ahead of time in case a warning turns into an order.
If in need of evacuation assistance call (559) 675-7770. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.
To keep up with key evacuation updates in Madera County, text your zip code to 888777 to receive alerts.
Follow the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter and Facebook for additional updates on areas in jeopardy and safety tips.
What happened at Mammoth Pool?
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services coordinated a rescue of more than 200 people sheltering-in-place at Mammoth Pool, trapped when the fast-moving Creek Fire crossed the north side of the San Joaquin River.
An operation was completed Sunday morning, Sept. 6, with 20 transported to area hospitals with injuries including broken bones and burns. Two chose to stay behind, refusing evacuation, according to the sheriff’s office.
The majority of the victims were flown to Fresno Yosemite International Airport, where a triage center was set up. Units from the Fresno and Clovis fire departments then were standing by to help transfer patients to local hospitals.
As many as 20 people, plus 15 dogs, were still stuck as of that Sunday night at Mammoth Pool. They were eventually successfully evacuated early Monday morning by ground rescue crews.
How did the fire start?
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fighting the wildfire
There are 2,978 personnel assigned to the wildfire. The following are the cooperating agencies by zone.
North Zone: Madera County, Madera County Public Health, Madera County Fire, OES, CHP, National Park Service, PG&E, CDCR, Sothern California Edison, American Red Cross, California National Guard, California Air National Guard.
South Zone: Fresno County, Fresno County Public Health, Fresno County OES, OES, Shaver Lake Fire Department, Bald Mountain Fire Protection District, Auberry Fire Department, Huntington Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Big Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Pine Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, CHP, National Park Service, CDCR, PG&E, Sothern California Edison, American Red Cross, California National Guard, California Air National Guard..
What’s being shared on social media
Wildfires across California
Five of the 10 largest wildfires in recorded California history are currently burning in the state.
Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have burned more than 3.4 million acres across 7,882 incidents, with 25 fatalities and 6,223 structures damaged or destroyed.
This story was originally published September 6, 2020 at 11:17 AM with the headline "What we know about the Creek Fire: Where it started, latest evacuations in California."