Oak Fire update: 19,000 acres burned near Yosemite at estimated firefighting cost of $15M
UPDATE: Almost 3,000 residents were able to return to their homes as fire crews continued to make progress against the Oak Fire.
Cal Fire even projected that the Oak Fire could be completely contained by Aug. 6.
As of Thursday night, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s office reported that 2,783 residents were able to return to their homes.
However, 938 remained evacuated.
In addition, the number of residential structures destroyed increased to 90, while 676 other residents structures remained in danger.
“We’ve made some huge gains and wins the last few days in getting people back in their homes and getting PG&E and everything turned back on,” Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said. “As we move forward we need to come to together as one community because what many are going to walk into, unfortunately, is what I call total devastation in some areas.”
The Oak Fire, which initially was moving fast and spreading quickly when it first broke out Friday, didn’t grow much Thursday from the morning to the night.
Thursday night’s update listed the Oak Fire at 19,191 acres and 42% containment.
PG&E representative Brandon Sanders said 3,193 people lost power during the fire.
But that number was now less than 750 customers.
Help with documents
The Mariposa County Health and Human Services will host a three-day local assistance center beginning Aug. 1 at Mariposa High.
The event is for people affected by the Oak Fire and need help replacing important documents that were lost or destroyed. It also will help those who need food and other things.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Oak Fire now exceeds 19,000 acres of destruction while the containment creeps up, according to the Thursday morning update from Cal Fire.
The blaze that spread quickly in its early days near Yosemite National Park has scorched 19,156 acres and is 39% contained, Cal Fire said.
Firefighters saw most of the overnight activity towards the northeast, Cal Fire said, for the fire that started Friday along Highway 140 near Carstens Road in Mariposa County.
“With higher temperatures and lower humidity, crews may observe increased fire behavior, the update said Thursday.
Fire officials plan a community meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the gym at Mariposa High School, 5074 Old Highway N.
The number of homes burned rose again and was tallied at 77, Cal Fire said. Another 676 remain threatened. Thirty-nine other structures were also destroyed.
No fatalities and no injuries have been reported, Cal Fire said. Many have been displaced at least temporarily.
The National Interagency Fire Center’s nationwide situation report shows the estimated cost to fight the Oak Fire so far at $15.3 million.
There were 3,758 personnel working on the Oak Fire as of Thursday morning, including more than 300 engines and 22 helicopters.
Cal Fire has estimated the fire will be contained by Aug. 6. The cause remains under investigation.
Gofundme for victims of Oak Fire
GoFundMe established a centralized hub to help identify all verified fundraisers created for those who have lost businesses and homes in the Oak Fire.
The “Trust & Safety” team reviews fundraisers related to the Oak Fire, according to the fundraising site. They are collected at a hub.
The hub can be found at gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california/central.
Smoke in the Valley
The National Weather Service in Hanford said forecasters expect smoke to be a factor in the weather over the next several days.
The smoke could affect air quality in the Valley and could lower temperatures by a few degrees than were predicted. The smoke has lightly dirtied the air in Northern California, but the winds are shifting.
The highs in the foothills have been forecast at 94 and 104 for the Valley as temperatures rise through the weekend.
For the most current evacuations map, go here.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 9:11 AM.
