A ferocious wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills raged out of control Sunday, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes at the entrance to Yosemite National Park.
The Oak Fire started Friday near the town of Midpines, Calif., and exploded in size over the weekend.
Burning through thick and dry vegetation on the region’s steep and rugged hillsides, the flames were fanned by gusty winds and temperatures that hovered around 100F (38C). The extreme nature of the fire meant it turned tall trees into matchsticks and sent black smoke billowing over Mariposa’s historic downtown.
It remained at 0% containment Sunday night despite resource-intensive firefighting efforts. As of Friday, it has consumed more than 15,000 acres. More than 3,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
More than 2,000 people from state and federal first responders battled the fire, attacking it from both the ground and the air. At least 10 homes and other structures were destroyed, leaving thousands at risk along the way.
“The growth of this fire is pretty incredible given how quickly we had resources here,” said Chief Mike van Loben Sells of the Madera Merced Mariposa Unit of the California Fire and Forestry (Cal Fire). He noted that embers and hearths were burning more than a mile ahead of the flames. “We really threw everything at this thing from the beginning,” he said.
The fire is one of dozens burning across the American West as the region prepares for months of peak fire risk still ahead. More than 5.5 million acres have already burned in the U.S. this year, roughly 70 percent more than the 10-year average.
California, a state that has faced increasing threats from monster fires in recent years, had seen a milder-than-normal start to its riskiest season. Spring rains offered a reprieve, delaying the start of what officials still fear will be another devastating fire year. The oak fire showed how quickly things can change.
On Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the area, allowing thousands of emergency workers to be deployed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Thousands of residents and visitors were ordered to evacuate after the fire broke out, some fleeing so quickly they failed to pack their essentials. In the chaos, a local man named Ron, who declined to give his last name, left behind his medication and his dog, Duke, an aging Labrador mix with a bad hip.
“When I left him, I couldn’t find anyone to help,” Ron said, adding that he had suffered a stroke and was still disoriented. “But it’s my baby, man.”
Fire captains Shion Askari and David Jessen came to Ron’s aid, carrying the man back to his evacuated hillside home as the fire approached. Helicopters zigzagged overhead and planes dropped fire retardant on the slopes above as firefighters helped Ron load a terrified Duke into the back of their pickup truck and grab his pillboxes before wheeling the duo back down the mountain to safety place.
Jessen and Ascari, who are from different parts of California but assigned as partners for the incident, spent the rest of the morning going around towns to post the latest maps and answer questions from people hungry for information. Along with providing essential information, big shootouts also often require rescues like Duke’s. “It’s part of the job, you’re just in the right place at the right time,” Jessen said, adding, “I have a feeling this won’t be the last.”
Throughout the city of Mariposa, people huddled around their A-frame information posts, sharing stories and offering their thanks for the ongoing firefighting efforts. Flags fluttered overhead, turning what would otherwise be a cool respite on a hot summer’s day into yet another foreboding sign that the fire loomed near.
Further up the highway, a roadside diner called Steve’s Sportsman’s Café had become a de facto hub for locals, both those displaced by the fire and others watching and waiting. Outside, a motorcyclist shared videos of his harrowing encounter with the fire. It spared his home, but claimed his shed, where priceless souvenirs were kept – his grandfather’s fishing rods and guns. “It could have been a lot worse though,” he said, shaking his head as he walked into the restaurant.
Behind the cash register, Tracy Heidsek detailed how the power outages caused by the fire did their kind of damage. “We’ve already lost all our food in our fridge and freezers,” she said, adding that her well has also dried up and she doesn’t even have water to flush the toilets. It was part of the fire threats that she said are increasing year after year and claiming lives. “I’m just exhausted,” she said. “I have no water and electricity.”
But the community – and the restaurant – came together during this difficult time. Steve Knauf, who owns the diner, came over to offer his support. “There’s been a lot of hugs and tears over the last few days,” he said, adding: “But it’s like one big family here.”
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