Fire in eastern Madera County far from containment. ‘You have to be ready to leave’
A wildfire near Kerckhoff Lake in eastern Madera County that had burned a little more than 100 acres and destroyed one home was 30 percent contained by late Sunday afternoon, according to Cal Fire officials.
The Power Fire broke out shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday near Road 222 and Road 235, south of North Fork in Madera County.
Residents in the foothills of Madera and Fresno county said they started to hear and smell the telltale signs of fire.
“The bombers were out making their drops and you could smell the smoke in the air,” said Patty Jones, a mountain resident for 40 years.
Although Jones was not close to the fire, she said mountain residents know the devastation a fire can cause.
“You never get used to it, but you pay attention and you have to be ready to leave when you have to,” said Jones, who owns the Auberry Feed Station.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the area covering Road 222 from Carmen Ranch Road to Kerckhoff Lake; Corrine Lake Road from Roads 222 to 235, including Box Canyon Road; and Road 235 from Kerckhoff Lake to Corrine Lake Road.
Corine Lake Road was open to residents only and Road 222 was reopened, according to an evacuation warning update posted just before 6 p.m. Sunday.
The fire remained at 108 acres and 30% containment as of 7 p.m., according to the Cal Fire incidents webpage.
More than 200 firefighters were battling the blaze from the air and ground. As of Sunday morning, 20 fire engines, three helicopters and four bulldozers were engaged in fighting the fire.
Three injuries were reported, but it was not clear if those were to firefighters or civilians.
Evacuated residents can contact Red Cross at 571-595-7401 . Cal Fire has established a fire information line: 844-MMU-FIRE (844-668-3473).
This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 9:09 AM.
