What we know about the Oak Fire: Where it started, latest evacuations in California

The Oak Fire has been burning since Friday afternoon in the mountainous terrain of Mariposa County, about 14 miles from Yosemite National Park’s Arch Rock entrance on Highway 140.

The Oak Fire had burned 19,156 acres and was 39% contained as of a Thursday morning update from Cal Fire.

Full containment is predicted for Aug. 6.

This is the third wildfire to burn this month in proximity to Yosemite and has proven to be the most challenging for fire crews.

The Washburn Fire and Agua Fire, which respectively started on July 7 and July 18, have reached near or complete containment. And neither of those wildfires had grown larger than 5,000 acres.

Where did the Oak Fire start?

The Oak Fire ignited about 2:10 p.m. Friday in rural Midpines, near Highway 140 and Carstens Road. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Mariposa and an hour from Yosemite National Park.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Why did the fire spread so fast?

Crystal Kolden, a pyrogeographer and a professor at UC Merced, posted on social media that the Oak Fire expanded rapidly due to three primary factors: fuel load, heat and the very dry air due to Friday’s 108-degree conditions.

The professor said the area hasn’t burned since 1924.

Read more on the rapid spread at The Bee, Why is California’s Oak Fire spreading so fast? Here are factors experts say are at play.

Fire destroys, damages property

Cal Fire said the wildfire continues to threaten 676 structures.

As of Thursday morning’s update, 77 homes have been destroyed, with six others damaged. Another 39 outbuildings have been destroyed, with four more damaged.

When is the next Oak Fire community meeting?

The community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mariposa County High School gymnasium, 5074 Old Road North in Mariposa.

It likely will be livestreamed via Cal Fire’s Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Facebook page at facebook.com/CALFIREMMU.

What’s the latest on Oak Fire evacuations

The following areas are the latest to have evacuation orders reduced to a fire advisements. They are open, though only to residents.

• All of East Westfall Road, including Smithers Road and Old Mill Road

• Vista Lago Lane and Monte Vista Lane

For the most current evacuation map, visit here.

For a full list of the evacuations and advisements, visit the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Facebook page or Cal Fire’s Oak Fire incident page.

Mariposa County’s searchable map tool allows residents to enter an address to doublecheck evacuation status.

An evacuation shelter was set up at Mariposa Elementary School, 5044 Jones St. in Mariposa.

What to do when you evacuate, tips on return

If you are evacuating due to an emergency, and downed power lines are blocking your path:

• Always seek a safe route that does not have downed power lines.

• If there is no evacuation route clear of power lines and you have no other choice, drive slowly over the power lines to prevent the lines from becoming tangled with your vehicle. Stay inside the vehicle at all times.

• If power lines become entangled with the vehicle, stop, call 9-11 and remain inside the vehicle until first responders arrive on-site and provide direction.

If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line:

• Stay inside! The safest place is in your car. The ground around your car may be energized.

• Honk the horn, roll down your window and yell for help.

• Warn others to stay away. Anyone who touches the equipment or ground around the vehicle may be injured.

• Use your mobile phone to call 911.

• Fire department, police and PG&E workers will tell you when it is safe to get out of the vehicle.

If there is a fire and you must exit a vehicle that has come in contact with downed power lines:

• Remove loose items of clothing.

• Cross your arms across your chest and jump clear of the vehicle, so you are not touching the car when your feet hit the ground.

• Once outside the vehicle, do not touch the car.

• Keep both feet close together and shuffle away from the vehicle without picking up your feet.

• Shuffle at least 30 feet away on a dry surface and 60 feet away from the line on a wet surface.

When returning from a wildland fire, the county offered these tips:

• Use caution when re-entering a burned area; flare-ups can occur.

• Check grounds for hot spots smoldering stumps and vegetation. Use your buckets of water.

• Check the roof and exterior areas for sparks and embers.

• Check the attic and throughout the house for hidden burning sparks and embers.

• Continue to check for problem areas for several days.

• Contact 911 if any danger is perceived.

• If burning outside your home was extensive, watch for soil erosion.

• Consult local experts on the best way to restore and replant your land with fire safe landscaping.

What about road closures?

State Route 140 reopened at 8 p.m. Tuesday. It had been closed from the north junction of Highway 49 to Ponderosa Road in Mariposa County due to the Oak Fire.

These roads remained closed:

• Triangle Road from Hwy 140 to Darrah Road, including all side roads

• Jerseydale Road, including all side roads

• Silva Road from Van Ness Drive to Triangle Road

• Darrah Road from Deer Springs to Triangle Road

• East Westfall Road from Triangle Road to Oliver Creek

• Carstens Road, including all side roads

For road information, check Quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Have animals needing evacuation?

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office said large animals could be housed at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa.

However, no visitations of your animals are allowed at this time.

In addition, large animals could be taken to the Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds, 44777 Rodeo Grounds Lane.

For those who need to drop off food or “for specific information about your large animal, NOT Dogs or Cats,” contact Animal Control at 707-484-3556.

The small animal drop off at the Mariposa County SPCA was full.

But small animals still were being accepted at Mariposa Elementary School, 5044 Jones St., Mariposa.

How many firefighters are on the Oak Fire?

There were 3,758 personnel battling the fire as of early Thursday.

The totals included 93 hand crews, 303 engines, 70 water tenders and 81 dozers. In addition, there are 22 helicopters involved in the fight.

State of emergency

On Saturday evening, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County.

A state of emergency allows public officials to change usual operations and order actions to respond to an unfolding crisis.

Earlier Saturday, Newsom announced that California secured a federal grant that will provide financial assistance in the fight against the Oak Fire.

The Fire Management Assistance Grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Where has the fire spread lately?

“Fire behavior was moderate overnight with most of the fire activity occurring on the northeast side,” Thursday’s early update noted. “With higher temperatures and lower humidity, crews may observe increased fire behavior.

“Work will continue to address hazards and repair infrastructure within the fire perimeter.”

Where to find Oak Fire updates

Follow The Bee’s coverage of the Oak and other wildfires at fresnobee.com/fires. Recent stories include:

»» Oak Fire update: 19,000 acres burned near Yosemite at estimated firefighting cost of $15M

»» Mariposa County residents share tense experiences of fleeing Oak Fire. ‘It is very scary’

»» Oak Fire update: Fresno expecting smoke as wildfire near Yosemite burns more homes

Sign up for text and email alerts, including evacuation orders, from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office at MSOAlert.com.

Cal Fire’s incident page for the Oak Fire is at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022/7/22/oak-fire/. Updates are also posted on the agency’s Twitter account @CAL_FIRE. A comprehensive release describing overnight activity and the forecast for the day is typically posted by about 7 a.m.

For real-time air quality conditions generated by sources including wildfire smoke across the country, visit fire.airnow.gov.

Unofficial but generally reliable updates are posted at @CAFireScanner.

The Fire Integrated Real Time Intelligence System (FIRIS), “a program intended to significantly improve situational awareness for first responders,” posts the latest mapping and acreage totals @FIRIS.

Updates and retweets with key context can be found @stacey_hb_.

What they’re posting on social media about the Oak Fire

This story was originally published July 23, 2022 at 6:26 PM with the headline "What we know about the Oak Fire: Where it started, latest evacuations in California."