Creek Fire updates: Fresno, Madera counties ease more evacuations, water alert issued

The Creek Fire, already the largest single wildfire in state history, has now burned more than 300,000 acres but remained little changed throughout Sunday.

Fire officials in a 7:17 p.m. update said the acres burned remained at 302,870 and containment at 39%. The date for expected full containment has been pushed back to Oct. 31 from Oct. 15, according to Cal Fire.

In the North Zone, the fire continued to be active overnight and flare up as it entered pockets of fuels, including timber and brush. The fire is expected to remain active around Norris Lake, Cora Creek, Little Shuteye Peak, and south of Whisky Falls.

In the Creek Fire South Zone, the fire was aided by easterly winds. The complex terrain in the northern areas influences the wind and moves the fire in multiple directions, and the remainder of the fire has heavy material smoldering and is making short runs in the interior islands.

The fire is expected to be most active south of Mount Tom and to progress toward Florence Lake and the Dinkey Lakes wilderness.

Fire officials expected a significant shift in weather conditions Sunday afternoon, with down-slope and down-canyon winds impacting fire behavior.

With rising temperatures forecast through midweek, there will be an increase in fire behavior in areas where fuels are able to preheat earlier in the day and hot spots have more open flame and smoke.

Fuel loading in the timber is estimated at 2,000 tons per acre and brush in the area is at a critical fuel moisture level.

Five of the 26 active wildfires in the state are now more than 300,000 acres – the August Complex is listed at 873,120 acres, the SCU Lightning Complex at 396,624, the LNU Lightning Complex at 363,220, the North Complex at 305,188 and the Creek Fire 302,870.

7:20 p.m.: ‘Business as usual’

Firefighters faced no significant challenges Sunday night on the Creek Fire, as containment and the size of the incident remained unchanged.

Although winds were a concern for some northern parts of the Sierra for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers, Creek Fire spokesman Chris Thompson said it was “business as usual” for the central Sierra wildfire region.

He said fire crews continued to build more containment lines.

Several evacuation warnings were lifted in the fire region throughout the day, and Thompson said residents around Shaver Lake had begun returning. More re-population efforts were expected Monday.

The Forest Service is expected to resume its live-streamed daily briefing at 7 p.m. Monday at the Millerton Fire Station.

6:40 p.m.: More Madera County evacuations lifted

Here are the latest evacuation warnings to be lifted in Madera County, according to the sheriff’s office there.

M8 – Douglas Ranger Station Road

M9 – Willow Canyon Drive

M10 – Road 274

M11 – Marina View

M22 – Gilpin Way

4:30 p.m.: Water warning for wildfire areas

Fresno County officials are warning residents returning to areas impacted by the Creek Fire to be mindful of water use, as conditions are not safe.

“Due to damage to the water/sewage system from the Creek Fire, water systems are about 50% capacity and the wastewater systems also have reduced capacity,” the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office advised Sunday afternoon.

Information from the county of Fresno recommended that residents avoid outdoor watering and take short showers, as well as fix leaky sinks and toilets in order to conserve water.

The county also issued a notice saying the water is unsafe to drink until the local government notifies them that it is. Maintenance staff is working to make repairs to the water facilities damaged by the fire.

12:30 p.m.: 22 more evacuation orders lifted

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and fire officials announced that 22 more evacuation orders from the Creek Fire had been lifted and are subject to Regional Order No. 20-17 USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Emergency Forest Closure Order.

Zone F2O – South boundary includes and extends south of Beach Parking 3. West Boundary includes Steven Creek Dam and Huntington Lake Road from Shaver Point to Sierra Marina.

Zone F2P – Zone extends to contain the west side of Tollhouse Road and Rockhaven Road, just north of the Central Sierra Historical Society.

Zone F6C – The south boundary includes the lake shore of Pine Flat Lake between Trimmer Campground to the east of the Trimmer Springs Road and Sycamore 2 Road intersection. The west boundary is the east border of the Trimmer Campground. The north boundary includes the Sycamore Creek area.

Zone F6D – Contains the intersection of Trimmer Springs Road and Big Creek Road. The south boundary is Pine Flat Lake. The west boundary is about a half a mile south of the Trimmer Springs Road intersection with Sycamore 2 Road. The north boundary is about a third of a mile south of Ross Creek. The east boundary is about a mile east of the Trimmer Springs Road and Big Creek Road intersection.

Zone F6E – Contains wilderness north of Pine Flat Lake, east of Bob’s Flat Trail. South of Soaproot Saddle Road, and west of Big Creek Road.

Zone F6F – Contains both sides of Big Creek Road south of Cats Head Campground and north of Ross Creek.

Zone F6G – South Boundary is just north of the Dinkey-Trimmer Road and Ross Crossing Road intersection. West Boundary is a half a mile west of the Big Creek Road and Vomac Clovis Drive intersection. The north boundary is a mile north of the Nutmeg Campground (off of Big Creek Road). East boundary contains Dinkey Trimmer Road.

Zone F6H – Contains undeveloped land that spreads out about a mile and a half in most directions from the intersection of Bob’s Flat Road and Soaproot Saddle Road.

Zone F6I – South boundary (includes) and runs south of Soaproot Campground. The west boundary is about half a mile west of the Blue Canyon Work Center. The north boundary is about a mile south of Providence Creek Road. The east boundary is a quarter mile west from the Duff Creek and Lost Creek transition.

Zone F6J – South boundary is just north of McClarty Farms Yard South Avenue. West boundary is about a quarter-mile east of the Soaproot Saddle Road and Bob’s Flat Road intersection. North boundary is just south of the Big Creek Road and Soaproot Saddle Road intersection.

Zone F7A – Contains both sides of Dinkey Creek Road (including) just west of Blue Canyon Vista Observation. It follows Dinkey Creek Road to the east until just outside Summit Meadow Campground. The north boundary is south (excluding) of the shoreline of Shaver Lake and Fishing Club.

Zone F7B – South boundary is Bald Mountain and the south bend of Shaver Lake. The west boundary is west of the shoreline of Shaver Lake. The north boundary contains properties that lay south of Huntington Lake Road. The east boundary is west of Rock Creek Road from Tollhouse Road.

Zone F7C – South boundary consists of the north side of Highway 168, west of Tamarack Ridge and east of Sierra Marina. The west boundary and north boundary consist of the south side of Huntington Lake Road. This zone includes Tamarack Mountain.

Zone F7F – The south boundary contains both sides of Dawn Road from Huntington Lake Road and Musick Peak Road. The west boundary contains Million Dollar Road and continues to the San Joaquin River. The north boundary is a mile north of Musick mountain. The east boundary contains the west side of Huntington Lake Road between Sierra Marina in the south to the intersection of Huntington Lake Road and Musick Peak Road in the north.

Zone F8A – South boundary lays north of Sawmill Flat and south of Sugarpine Hill. The west boundary is a quarter of a mile from the Ross Crossing Road and McKinley Grove Road intersection. The north boundary extends (includes) property north of Courtright Reservoir. The east boundary ends east of (including) Wishon Reservoir.

Zone F8B – South boundary includes the areas both north and south of McKinley Grove Road, and runs south of Dinkey Mountain. The boundary runs north to include Dinkey Creek and runs about a half-mile north of Dinkey Creek Campground. The boundary continues to the east, west of Nelson Mountain.

Zone F8C – South boundary lays north of Sycamore Springs Road. West boundary is at the intersection of Ross Crossing Road and Trimmer Springs Road. The west boundary continues north to contain Nutmeg Glen along Ross Crossing Road. The north boundary ends south of Dinkey Mountain. The east boundary ends half of a mile east of Ross Crossing Campground.

Zone F8D – The south boundary contains both sides of Ross Crossing Road, north of Patterson Bluffs. The west boundary is roughly a half of a mile southeast of Ross Crossing Campground. This section contains Patterson Mountain.

Zone F8E – West boundary begins at the intersection of Blackrock Road and Vomac Road. The north boundary runs a quarter of a mile north of the intersection of McKinley Grove Road and Blackrock Road. The east border runs east of Granite Gorge in the north and runs east of Rodgers Ridge at the end of Vomac Way.

Zone F8F – The south boundary lays roughly a mile south of Black Rock Road. The west boundary is just east of the end of Vomac Road, and west of Patterson Bluffs. The north boundary is south of Ross Crossing Road, and the east boundary is at the intersection of Blackrock Road and Vomac Road.

Zone F8G – The south boundary runs along the north side of Kings River and begins in the west at the western outlet of Pine Flat Lake, and continues to the east past Kirch Flat Campground. The north boundary is south of Balch Camp.

Zone F8H – The south boundary lays north of Kirch Flat Campground. The west boundary is at the intersection of Trimmer Springs Road and Ross Crossing Road. The north boundary contains the areas north of Trimmer Springs Road and Sycamore Springs Road. The east boundary is at the end of Vomac Road.

Fresno County has an up-to-date map of evacuation orders and warnings.

Regional order No. 20-17 USDA, the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region emergency forest closure order, prohibits going into or being upon National Forest system lands, being on a National Forest system road and being on a National Forest system trail within the national forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which include the following:

• Angeles National Forest
• Cleveland National Forest
• Los Padres National Forest
• San Bernardino National Forest
• Inyo National Forest
• Sequoia National Forest
• Sierra National Forest
• Klamath National Forest
• Six Rivers National Forest

It is in effect through Sept. 30, 2020. The following persons are exempt …

• Persons with Forest Service permit No. FS-7700-48 (permit for use of roads, trails, or areas restricted by regulation or order), specifically exempting them from this order
• Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.
• Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.
• Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.
• Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions, but may use National Forest system roads to the extent necessary to carry out their business, trade or occupation.

10:20 a.m.: More Fresno County evacuation orders lifted

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office announced that evacuation orders have been lifted for eight zones impacted by the Creek Fire.

Zone F1P – The south boundary is the intersection of Peterson Road and James Mountain Road. The west boundary is the intersection of Cressman Road and Glenwood Lane. The north boundary is south of Wild Rose Lane and Fawn Lily Lane (Includes properties off of Yellow Lupin Lane). The east boundary is the intersection of Taylor Creek and Rush Creek.

Zone F2B – Includes only the east side of Tollhouse Road and its community that lays off all of its off-shoots from Lakeview Drive and Dalton Avenue to the Shaver Lake shoreline.

Zone F2C – Includes only the east side of Highway 168 (Huntington Lake Road). North boundary includes Shaver Lake Watersports, just south of the Cottages at the Point. South boundary includes the Central Sierra Historical Society. The east boundary includes all off Camp Edison to the Shaver Lake shoreline.

Zone F2D – South boundary includes the north side of Dinkey Creek Road at its intersection with Sparrow Road. The south boundary extends to include all houses and offshoots on the north face of Sparrow Road. The west boundary includes all properties on the east side of Highway 168. The north boundary lays south of Camp Edison. The east boundary extends to the Shaver Lake shoreline.

Zone F2E – The south boundary begins north of the Shaver Post Office. The west boundary contains properties on the east side of Tollhouse Road. The north boundary contains properties on the south side of Sparrow Road and Dinkey Creek Road. The east boundary extends to contain properties on the east side of Musick Drive from Dinkey Creek Road.

Zone F2K – South boundary begins north of the Shaver Post Office. West boundary extends to contain all properties on Hillcrest Road from Highway 168. The north boundary is south of Sweet Grass Street. The east boundary consists of the properties that lay on the west side of Highway 168.

Zone F2M – Zone contains the undeveloped area west of Tollhouse Road north of Ken’s Market and south of the Stevens Creek Dam.

Zone F2N – Contains a largely undeveloped area along the shoreline of Shaver Lake. Contains the north and east side of Shaver Lake.

Fresno County has an up-to-date map of evacuation orders and warnings.

Fresno County road closures remain in effect on Tollhouse Road at Highway 168, Tollhouse Road at Shaver Springs Road, Highway 168 at Huntington Lake Road, Dinkey Creek Road at Ockenden Village Road and Trimmer Springs Road at Maxon Road.

9:45 a.m.: Bullfrog Fire update

The Bullfrog Fire, burning in the Sequoia National Forest east of the Creek Fire, has burned 1,185 acres with 46% containment, according to a Sunday morning update from fire officials.

Water drops from two Chinook helicopters aided fire crews in significant gains in containment, which had been listed at 30%.

The fire, burning on the eastern fringe of the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness west of Courtright Reservoir, started Sept. 9 and is not related to the Creek Fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire crews on Sunday will continue fire suppression and containment along the southeast edge with further support from the air, while clear of smoke.

8:45 a.m.: Red Flag warnings in place, new fire in Napa

A Red Flag warning will continue through Monday for much of Northern California due to gusty winds and low humidity, creating critical fire weather conditions.

Those winds have fanned a new incident in Napa County. The Glass Fire, east of Calistoga, started early Sunday and quickly spread to 800 acres. There are evacuation orders in place for all of Crystal Springs Road and North Fork Crystal Springs.

The cause of that wildfire is under investigation.

A Fire Weather Watch also is in effect across Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego mountain areas, and the Santa Clarita and San Diego valleys due to gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity.

A Red Flag Warning is issued when conditions including low humidity, strong winds, dry fuels and the possibility of dry lightning strikes may result in extreme fire behavior within 24 hours.

A Fire Weather Watch signals when weather conditions could exist within 12 to 72 hours.

PG&E started a Public Safety Power Shutoff on Sunday morning due to forecast high winds, with parts of 16 Northern California counties to be impacted.

The shutoff is expected to affect about 89,000 customers in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Tehama and Yuba counties.

The winds are expected to ease through Sunday, but then pick up again late in the afternoon.

8 a.m.: Fire crews gain on SQF Complex Fire

Cal Fire reports that the SQF Complex Fire is now 47% contained, while total reported acres burned remained at 149,888 on Sunday morning.

The cause of that blaze is listed as lightning.

The fire crept through unburned areas overnight at a slow pace, fire officials said, though heat in dead standing logs remains a significant threat. Damage estimates continue, with 173 structures reported as destroyed and 12 as damaged. There also are 59 minor structures reported damaged.

Officials downgraded several mandatory evacuation orders for the area to voluntary on Saturday afternoon, including South Fork Drive in Three Rivers from Conley Bridge (just south of Heidi Drive) to Cinnamon Canyon Road; east from South Fork Drive to Cinnamon Gap and Blossom Peak Road; south of Mountain Springs Road to Blossom Peak Ridge and Cinnamon Canyon Road.

Residents in those areas may return to their homes after showing proof of residency to law enforcement.

Sequoia National Park remains closed, and evacuation orders remain in place for Ponderosa, Alpine Village, Sequoia Crest, Doyle Springs, Cedar Slope, Upper Tule River Corridor (Camp Nelson, Pierpoint, Coy Flat, Mountain Aire, and points between, Mineral King, Silver City, Portions of Three Rivers, and Cahoon Mountain.

Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for the community of Springville (all points between Globe Dr. and Balch Park Rd.), the remainder of Three Rivers, Cherokee Oaks, Old Three Rivers Road.

The SQF Complex Fire is a combination of the Castle Fire and the Shotgun Fire, which formed a complex on Aug. 24.

The Shotgun Fire started Aug. 18, the Castle Fire on Aug. 19.

7:30 a.m.: Small animal shelter closing

The shelter at the Fresno Fairgrounds for small animals displaced by the Creek Fire will be closing on Sunday at 5 p.m. and relocating to the county animal shelter in Fresno.

The remaining animals at the Fairgrounds will be moved, and animals from the disaster area that need to be sheltered can be taken to the county facility Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The shelter is located at 760 W. Nielsen.

This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 7:55 AM with the headline "Creek Fire updates: Fresno, Madera counties ease more evacuations, water alert issued."