Live Updates: River Fire jumps to 9,000 acres with 10% containment; evacuations in place
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River Fire Updates
Read the latest stories on the River Fire, burning along the Mariposa and Madera county border in California.
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Get the latest updates on the River Fire >> >> Containment improves overnight; Madera County state of emergency
Cal Fire and allied firefighters Monday were facing a wind-driven River Fire with temperatures well above 100 degrees as the blaze spread west of Yosemite National Park.
The fire consumed more than 4,000 acres on Sunday and was burning along the Mariposa and Madera county border in the area near Oak Grove Road and Oak Grove School Road. The acreage was increased to 9,000 on Monday night.
The National Weather Service warned of “dangerously hot conditions,” with high temperatures reaching 109 to 114 degrees in the nearby Yosemite Valley, adding the risk of heat-related illnesses to the hazards facing firefighters and residents near the River Fire.
Flames and the resulting smoke also were degrading air quality for emergency workers and residents of the San Joaquin Valley, with Tulare County warned of unhealthy air. Fresno County conditions were unhealthy for some groups.
The fire was burning in oak/grass woodland, according to Cal Fire. The agency reported that Four structures and four outbuildings have been destroyed, but there were no injuries reported from the fire as of Monday night.
8:10 p.m.: The acreage total grew by another 1,000 to 9,000 in an updated posted by Cal Fire on Monday night. Containment remained at 10%. Initial reports Monday morning were that five structures had been destroyed; that total is now nine.
4:00 p.m.: Cal Fire has updated the acreage for the River Fire. The wildfire is now estimated to have burned 8,000 acres – about double what was reported on Monday morning. Containment is estimated at 10%.
12:30 p.m.: The River Fire is generally burning in the same area as the Harlow Fire which began 60 years ago, almost to the day, said Jaime Williams, a Cal Fire public information officer. Historical accounts indicate that the Harlow Fire began on July 10, 1961, and charred more than 43,000 acres in Mariposa and Madera counties before it was contained five days later.
10:45 a.m.: Cal Fire, the state’s department of forestry and fire prevention, reported Monday that the number of firefighters battling the blaze had swollen from 251 on Sunday night to almost 480. In addition to 83 fire engines, 12 bulldozers and nine water trucks, incident commanders said seven helicopters were added to the effort on Monday.
“Firefighters continue to aggressively attack the fire while dangerous heat persists,” Cal Fire reported Monday morning referring to high temperatures expected to climb to over 100 degrees. “Extreme fire behavior, due to low fuel moisture and persistent drought, is a concern. Crews are working hard to construct and reinforce control lines. Damage assessment is ongoing.”
As of mid-morning Monday, containment was estimated at 5% as crews work to build lines around the perimeter of the fire.
EVACUATION UPDATES
6:26 p.m.: The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office announced late Monday afternoon that all mandatory evacuation orders in the county had been reduced to a fire advisory.
This includes Stumpfield Mountain Road, Indian Peak Road and Oak Grove Road. Sheriffs ask that residents remain aware of fire activity and be prepared to leave should the fire conditions change.
3:52 p.m.: Mandatory evacuations in Madera County were issued for:
- Road 800
- Road 810
- Road 812
- Road 600
- Apache Road to 612 both sides
Road 600 between Apache Ranch Road and Blazing Saddle Trail, including the spur road JWP Ranch Road
In addition, Madera County evacuation warnings were made for:
- Road 600
- Road 612
- Road 415
6:57 p.m.: An evacuation order was issued for Road 600 South of Road 810 to Road 612.
Residents have been ordered to leave now with the area closed to public access.
6:25 p.m.: An evacuation warning was issued for Road 600 North of Apache Ranch to CA-49, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
There is potential threat to life and property.
6:22 p.m.: An evacuation order was issued for Road 600 between Road 810 AND Apache Ranch Road, where the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said there is an immediate threat to life.
The evacuation order is to leave now with the area being closed to public access.
Evacuation center
An evacuation shelter was established at the New Life Christian Fellowship, located at 5089 Cole Road.
Taylor Poisall, the communications director for the Red Cross, said four residents used the center as a place to sleep the first night as evacuation orders were made in their areas.
Poisall said one elderly couple came in at around 2 a.m. looking for a place to stay. One of the residents was looking for her diabetes test.
“We were just calling around to try and help her find one and doing what we can to help.” Poisall said.
Poisall said that some residents said they were reminded of the Ferguson Fire that raged in this area three years ago.
“I can tell it’s bringing back those memories of the Ferguson Fire but it shows how resilient this community is to come back from that. We at the Red Cross are here to help in any way extra.”
Concern in Coarsegold
Penny Rollins, owner of Penny’s Cuts, said early Monday afternoon that she was anxious that the fire might make its way to her home in Oak Creek.
“We’ve just been seeing the smoke and now we’re just preparing for what could happen next.” Rollins said.
Rollins and her family just moved from Santa Cruz to Coarsegold one year ago, barely missing a wildfire that hit the area after she left. She started her hair salon just two months ago and now is worried about if an evacuation order might come to her area.
“There’s just this level of concern you know from just moving up here we never dealt with the fires here yet,” Rollins said. “We haven’t heard anything about an evacuation yet but we’re just preparing for it. It’s a scary thing and you don’t know where to go. If it does get here, you go to Fresno or Oakhurst or do we go back to Santa Cruz?”
Martha Medina, a clerk at Coarsegold Market and 18-year resident of the community, said she isn’t as concerned about herself as she is for her sister and brother who live in the Ahwahnee area.
“We’re just on edge waiting to see what happens there,” Medina said. “Everything is so dry and hot that the fire moves quick. It just spread so quick it was crazy.”
This story was originally published July 12, 2021 at 7:46 AM with the headline "Live Updates: River Fire jumps to 9,000 acres with 10% containment; evacuations in place."
