Rough fire moves northwest, concern turns to evacuees, firefighters

As the Rough fire moved away from the giant sequoias Sunday and blue skies returned to Fresno, concern is turning to those affected by the fire, the people – and animals – driven out by it and the firefighters battling it.

Firefighters held the fire steady at 129,877 acres overnight Saturday and prevented it from burning south of Highway 180 Sunday morning.

The fire east of Fresno is the largest burning in California, with 2,961 firefighters working on it. It is 31% contained and has been burning since it was started by a lightning strike July 31.

Some fire has come through the Grant Grove area, including the loop that goes past the beloved General Grant tree, but it hasn’t done much harm, said fire information officer Frank Mosbacher.

“The Forest Service is not reporting to us that there’s any significant damage up there,” he said. “The pictures that I have seen look pretty good. It still looks like a sequoia grove.”

Sprinklers, flame retardant and efforts by the park service to cut back underbrush that could fuel fires well before the Rough fire started have paid off, Mosbacher said.

Efforts now turn to the flames that are heading west and north of Grant Grove toward McKenzie Ridge and the Delilah Lookout in the Sequoia National Forest.

“The fire has pretty much stopped moving in a south direction at this time, but it’s still moving west,” said Jim Schwarber, a public information officer on the Rough fire.

The Delilah Lookout is a building on a 70-foot-tall metal structure built in 1960 with a broad view of the surrounding area.

Because of the steep terrain, it’s difficult for firefighters to attack the blaze directly. But they have prepared fire lines to stop the flames closer to the lookout by clearing out brush, setting small fires and using helicopters and planes to drop fire retardant on the area.

Caring for livestock

Nearby residents watched the smoke from Squaw Valley, including a group in lawn chairs at the rodeo grounds who were keeping an eye on animals that had been evacuated.

The Mountain Rodeo Association would normally be hosting its yearly rodeo this weekend.

Instead, workers and volunteers were using their trailers to transport animals. Sunday, they were babysitting five horses and three goats from residents who had to evacuate. They were expecting 25 more goats later in the day.

“We had a horse delivered that they found roaming on the roads up there,” said Sandi Cates.

They have since found its owner.

Among the group watching a dark plume of smoke rise beyond McKenzie Ridge was Micah Brummitt of Dunlap. She, along with her 11- and 15-year-old kids, was given a mandatory evacuation notice for her childhood home on Old Oak Road on Friday morning.

“The last report was that the fire was a mile away from my house,” she said.

Brummitt already had moved irreplaceable items – her great-great-grandmother’s quilts and photos – to a safe place. When the two-hour notice came, they loaded their donkey and five sheep into a trailer to take to a friend’s pasture.

The family was staying with a friend.

Officials warned Sunday that an evacuation order may be issued for Balch Camp and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facilities near the Kings River.

Despite the evacuations, just three RVs took up the offer of free lodging at Kelly’s Beach in Reedley.

And no one was sleeping at the American Red Cross’ shelter in Sanger. The organization announced it was closing the shelter at 5 p.m. Sunday, but would still provide services and snacks from a table at the Squaw Valley Trading Center convenience store parking lot, 30812 E. Kings Canyon Road. Anyone needing assistance can also call the Red Cross at 559-455-1000.

“It’s been a slow-moving disaster,” said Jessica Piffero, the Red Cross regional director of communication. “People have known it’s coming and they’ve had time to make arrangements with friends and family.”

Brummitt echoed the sentiments of many when she said, “Everyone pretty much takes care of each other up here.”

Pillows for firefighters

As the fire burns on, people in Fresno and elsewhere are asking what they can do to help. The Red Cross and the agencies fighting the fire do not accept in-kind donations, such as food or clothing. Managing such donations can quickly get overwhelming and firefighters are provided with most of what they need by the government.

Financial donations to help out people affected by the fire can be made to the Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or online at redcross.org. People can also text the word redcross to 90999 to make a $10 donation via their phone bill.

Despite the no-donations rule, a group of locals had collected and given away more than 400 pillows to firefighters.

Earlier in the weekend, a firefighter from the camp of tents next door wandered into the Squaw Valley Consignment Shop looking for pillows. The store owners sold him two small throw pillows and the group of friends launched an effort on Facebook to buy pillows for firefighters.

Most firefighters bring their own sleeping bags and small travel pillows. But full-sized pillows often don’t fit into a pack when a firefighter is flying.

Hearing that some firefighters were wadding up their jackets or boots to use as pillows after working 14-hour shifts was heartbreaking, said Mary Dominguez, who is a lifelong Squaw Valley resident.

The pillow drive has expanded to include deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, mouthwash and wipes.

The fresh supplies were appreciated by Jahlil Sinogui of Stockton, who was working for the California Conservation Corps setting up firefighters with hoses and other supplies.

“Oh, this is awesome,” he said repeatedly as he perused the toiletries and clutched a pillow that was bigger and better than the one he had been using.

Though the donations were certainly appreciated, fire information officers noted that the firefighters are well supplied, and not in need of food or clothing.

“We’re encouraging folks to express their support and appreciation for the firefighters with thank yous,” Schwarber said. “We urge them to direct donations to the Red Cross for displaced evacuees and others who have a real need for them.”

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Rough fire moves northwest, concern turns to evacuees, firefighters."