Creek Fire updates: Blaze is largest single wildfire in state history; Yosemite to open Friday

The Creek Fire ranks as the sixth largest in California history.

But it’s also the state’s single largest fire incident, reported by Cal Fire on Wednesday night at 289,695 acres and 34 % containment.

“The five other fires that are larger were all complex fires, which means there are multiple fires involved,” said Cal Fire incident commander Nick Truax. “I just don’t want that to be lost. Sometimes the map may look a little bit simple if you haven’t been out there.”

There have been 5,283 structures threatened, 855 structures destroyed and 71 structures damaged.

The fire had been at 289,695 acres with 34% containment as of Wednesday evening. The wildfire is burning 14 miles from Mammoth Lakes in Fresno and Madera counties.

Full containment is not expected until Oct. 31, Cal Fire projects.

The fire grew by just under 6,000 acres since Tuesday as some residents and homeowners were allowed back in for the first time. Another group will be allowed in Wednesday.

With the damage survey nearly done, 855 structures have been listed as destroyed by the fire.

▪ The nearby SQF Complex Fire, which includes the Castle and Shotgun fires, continues to burn in and near the Sequoia National Forest. It grew by a little more than 4,000 acres Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, it has burned 144,708 acres and remains at 33% contained.

And by Wednesday night, the wildfire was at 144,826 acres and 35% containment. there were 3,183 structures threatened, 148 structures destroyed, and 12 structures damaged.

▪ The Bullfrog Fire east of Clovis remains at 890 acres with 20% containment.

2:16 p.m.: More evacuation orders reduced, warnings lifted in Fresno County

Additional evacuation warnings have been lifted in areas of the Creek Fire. They include Fresno County zones F5A, F5C, F5D, F5E and F13 B.

The evacuation order for zone F1J, which runs from Lodge Road to the south to Tollhouse Road and Gibbs Ranch Road east to Riverdale Road, has been reduced to a warning.

A complete list of zones, evacuation order and warnings can be found online.

1:30 p.m.: Yosemite National Park to reopen on Friday

Yosemite National Park will reopen to the public at 9 a.m. Friday after being closed for a week due to the Creek Fire.

Campsites in Yosemite Valley will also be available for incoming campers beginning Friday, park officials said in an announcement Wednesday.

Day-use reservations, implemented earlier this year due to COVID-19, will still required to enter the park.

Officials said they continue to monitor conditions and the park could still “close intermittently due to changes in air quality and smoke impacts.”

Kings Canyon National Park to the south reopened Wednesday. Sequoia National Park remains closed. It shares a border with Kings Canyon and is closer to the SQF Complex fire.

10:50 a.m.: Fresno County evacuation orders lifted in four zones; more people return to survey damage

Evacuation order have been lifted in four more areas of the Creek Fire, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Those areas are F1QA, F1R, F1SA and F1TD.

Zones F1SA and F1R were open to residents for re-entry Tuesday. This timeline should give residents (namely those with undamaged property) an indication how zones will be released following re-entry periods, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office also it will allow temporary access to residents in three additional areas on Thursday.

Access will be allowed to residents within Zones F1P, F2JA, and F2I, who have had had their homes destroyed. The temporary visits are designed so that residents can survey damage and salvage items. Non-residents or those whose homes were not destroyed will not be admitted.

Access will be granted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. via the check-in station at Foothill Elementary School, 29147 Auberry Road in Prather. Residents must bring an official ID and proof of residency.

Additional zones identified in the re-entry process will be announced in the future.

Residents and property owners can view the online evacuation map to determine when they are able to return to your property.

10:10 a.m.: Madera County evacuation warnings lifted

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday evacuation warnings had been lifted for six areas within the Creek Fire’s northern zone.

Those areas included M21: Parcels of Paradise, M23: Manzanita Lake Area, M24: Bass Lake Annex, M25: South Shore of Bass Lake, M55: Crass Drive and M56: Dorstan Drive.

A map of the zone and full list of evacuation orders can be found on the Madera County website.

9:30 a.m.: Tactical patrols in the south; air operations in the north

Tactical patrol is the word of the day in all areas in the southern zone of the Creek Fire on Wednesday.

This includes firefighters mopping up areas of the wildfire still exhibiting open flame, smoke and any smoldering, while ensuring threatened structures are prepared, should the fire impact those communities. At the same time, heavy equipment and hand crews are removing additional fuels from areas around existing lines to improve containment of the fire.

On the fire’s northern end, weather conditions look to remain consistent, possibly through the weekend, with alternating patterns of daytime up-sloping winds followed by nighttime down-sloping winds.

Fire crews have used this consistency to maximize the use of air resources. Air operations were busy on the western perimeter of the fire near Central Camp east of Bass Lake on Tuesday. Helicopters performed water drops and fixed wing aircraft dropped fire retardant along constructed dozer lines, allowing for aggressive back-burning in this area. The fire has been brought around Central Camp and firefighters continue to patrol the cabins and to this point have protected the structures in the area.

Air reconnaissance was also used to visually survey the northern fire perimeter, which spread over Beasore Road last weekend. This was the first opportunity to inspect the area, which includes Granite Creek and Clover Meadows camps. Though the fire passed through these areas, fire preparations performed last week proved to be effective and the buildings in these camps were saved.

Fire has also passed around Strawberry Mine, and the main buildings appear to be free of damage.

The Creek fire is now about 14 miles west of Mammoth Lakes, though the natural barriers and the previous burn scar appear to be limiting fire spread in the north-eastern flank. Conditions continue to be monitored closely.

8:40 a.m. Kings Canyon National Park open; Yosemite and Sequoia closed

Kings Canyon National Park reopened on Wednesday after being closed due to air quality last week. This includes the park entrance station on Highway 180 into Kings Canyon, Kings Canyon Visitor Center, trails, facilities and parking areas.

The Sunset Campground reopens by reservation only on Thursday and the Grant Grove area lodging and market reopens Friday. The Hume Lake Ranger District, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, reopens Friday.

Yosemite National Park remained closed to recreation on Wednesday, though through traffic is being allowed on some roads.

Sequoia National Park and the Sequoia and Sierra national forests remain closed.

8 a.m.: Air quality was ‘good’ overnight and into the morning

The air quality expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups through most parts of the central San Joaquin Valley on Wednesday, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The air should remain very unhealthy in the Sequoia National Park and Forest areas, which remain closed due to smoke conditions.

Fresno and Kern counties are predicted to reach levels that are unhealthy for all group, though the air quality in Fresno overnight and into Wednesday morning fell into the range of “good.” As of 7 a.m. the PM2.5 particulate levels in Fresno were at level 1, where outdoor activity OK for everyone.

This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 8:57 AM.