Two fires, fueled by heat and dry winds, inch toward communities in Sierra and Fresno counties
While much of California endures a scorching heat wave, fires burning in the Tahoe and Fresno areas forced residents to flee their homes as firefighters battled the blazes in searing heat and rough terrain.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the Fresno County blaze, but no civilians were injured in either fire as of Wednesday.
In Sierra County, flames from the Bear fire were inching toward the Sierra Nevada communities of Sierra Brooks and Loyalton, the U.S. Forest Service at the Tahoe National Forest said Wednesday morning, with the fire fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation.
The Bear fire, which was sparked Monday, had grown to 3,279 acres as of Wednesday afternoon, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of residents in more than 500 homes in Sierra County. The fire was zero percent contained.
Strong winds intensified the fire’s behavior, fire officials said, with flames advancing across much of its perimeter Tuesday. Flames crossed Smithneck Road on Tuesday, helping to spread the fire toward the east.
With the flames continuing to spread about a mile away from Sierra Brooks and three miles from Loyalton, more than 420 firefighters Wednesday were focused on trying to protect homes and infrastructure.
“Due to steep and rocky terrain, crews have experienced difficulty in gaining access to some areas of the fire, slowing progress,” U.S. Forest Service officials said in a Facebook update. “Significant dead and down fuels have served as a catalyst for rapid fire spread in brush and timber.”
Meteorologists say temperatures could reach 115 degrees in the San Fernando Valley. Burbank, Woodland Hills and Palm Springs could also see triple digits.
High-voltage electric power lines were also damaged by the fire, and about 760 residents were without power as a result, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Firefighters were trying to slow the fire and build containment lines and use water drops and fire retardant to contain the blaze.
Meanwhile in Fresno county, the Boone fire, which started Tuesday afternoon, had burned through burned 6,550 acres, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Wednesday night.
Erratic winds, and scorching temperatures complicated firefighting efforts, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters were expected to battle the Fresno County fire while enduring triple-digit temperatures through at least Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures were expected to reach a high of 104 degrees Thursday.
Burning west and northwest of Coalinga, the fire was 5% contained as of Wednesday morning.
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Although the fire was burning in a mostly open area of Los Gatos Creek, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday on Facebook it had identified about three dozen homes that were in the fire’s path. Evacuation orders had been placed for those homes, the office said.
The fires come as a heat wave is bearing down on Southern California, with temperatures reaching over 110 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Woodland Hills, Pasadena, Santa Clarita and Palm Springs.
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