Creek Fire updates: Containment grows; when can firefighters declare victory?

Firefighters battling the Creek Fire zeroed in on the last embers of the monster blaze in the Sierra and Inyo national forests Sunday, as containment was reported to reach the 95% figure.

The blaze, which erupted Sept. 4, burned 379,895 acres in eastern Fresno and Madera counties, destroying hundreds of structures, including homes in Shaver Lake. The cause remains under investigation. Fire officials estimate that complete containment will take place Nov. 30,

The fire caused a serious degradation of air quality in California’s central San Joaquin Valley in October and November, but officials with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District said it was not expected to be a factor Sunday in Fresno, although air quality for the region was forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Biggest wildfires in California history

The Creek Fire is the fourth-largest wildfire in California history and biggest single incident; the top three on the list are “complex” fires representing the merger of lines from two or more fires.

Fire	Date	Counties	Acres
August Complex	August 2020	Tehama	1,032,649
Mendocino Complex	July 2018	Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, Glenn	459,123
SCU Lightning Complex	August 2020	Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin	396,624
Creek	September 2020	Fresno, Madera	379,895
LNU Lightning Complex	August 2020	Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Yolo, Solano	363,220
Source: Cal Fire

This story was originally published November 22, 2020 at 10:33 AM.