Junction Fire in Oakhurst, California Information for Tuesday, August 19, 2014
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Updated as of: 9:00 P.M.
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Junction Fire Incident Information: |
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Last Updated: |
August 19, 2014 8:45 pm |
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Date/Time Started: |
August 18, 2014 1:50 pm |
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Administrative Unit: |
CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit |
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County: |
Madera County |
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Location: |
off Road 425A, near the Hwy 41 and Hwy 49 junction in Oakhurst |
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Acres Burned - Containment: |
612 acres - 35% contained |
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Structures Threatened: |
500 |
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Structures Destroyed: |
8 |
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Evacuations: |
Fire Information Line: (559) 658-2560 x115 Evacuations and Road Closures:Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for Highway 41 and all areas west of Highway 41, except Road 620. Roads east of Highway 41 remain closed and evacuations remain in effect.
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Injuries: |
2 |
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Cause: |
Under Investigation |
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Cooperating Agencies: |
Madera County Sheriff, Mariposa County Sheriff, Madera County Fire, United States Forest Service, CAL OES, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CHP, Red Cross, PG&E, Cal Trans, and Madera County OES |
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Total Fire Personnel: |
2,203 |
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Total Fire Engines: |
130 |
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Total Fire crews: |
16 |
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Total Helicopters: |
4 |
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Total Dozers: |
8 |
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Incident Management Team: |
CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 |
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Long/Lat: |
-119.6581/37.3433 |
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Conditions: |
Although the potential still exists for critical fire behavior, firefighters continue to make significant progress on the Junction Fire in Oakhurst, California. The fire is now 612 acres and 30% contained. Repopulation of portions of the community affected by the fire is occurring. The change in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. With summer weather and extreme drought conditions, we are asking everyone to continue to use caution, “one less spark - one less wildfire”. For more information on how to prepare for wildfires, go to: www.readyforwildfire.org.
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Phone Numbers |
(559) 658-2560 (xt 115 Junction Fire Information Line) |
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Updated as of: 6:00 P.M.
Addtional Road opens:
All evacuation orders west of Ca-41 including Road 620 area have been lifted. Road into the area are now open.
Updated as of: 5:30 P.M.
Road Closures still in effect:
Springwood Road, Road 620, River Falls Road, Road 222 from highway 41 to Road 274and John West Road at Jean Road East
Roads Now Open:
CA-41; Road 425A; and all roads on the west side of CA-41 except for 620, are now open to traffic.
Again CA-41 is open to traffic heading in and out of Yosemite National Park.
Advisory -- Springwood Road remains to closed to all traffic
Below is gthe lastest information from CAL Fire on the Junction Fire
JUNCTION FIRE
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
www.fire.ca.gov
Fire Information Line: (559) 658-2560 ext. 115
Media Information Line: (559) 706-8815
Current Fire Situation:
Although the potential still exists for critical fire behavior, firefighters continue to make significant
progress on the Junction Fire in Oakhurst, California. The fire is now 612 acres and 30% contained.
Repopulation of portions of the community affected by the fire is occurring. The change in acreage is due
to more accurate mapping.
Evacuations and Road Closures:
Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for Highway 41 and all areas west of Highway 41, except
Road 620. Roads east of Highway 41 remain closed and evacuations remain in effect.
Additional Information:
For fire information call the Information Center: 559-658-2560 ext. 115. Residents should remain
cautious of fire personnel and equipment working in the area.
Update: 4:35 P.M.
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Junction Fire Incident Information: |
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Last Updated: |
August 19, 2014 4:30 pm |
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Date/Time Started: |
August 18, 2014 1:50 pm |
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Administrative Unit: |
CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit |
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County: |
Madera County |
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Location: |
off Road 425A, near the Hwy 41 and Hwy 49 junction in Oakhurst |
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Acres Burned - Containment: |
600 acres - 30% contained |
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Structures Threatened: |
500 |
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Structures Destroyed: |
8 |
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Evacuations: |
Fire Information Line: (559) 658-2560 x115 For the latest evacuations go to: http://www.facebook.com/MaderaSheriff Evacuations are in effect for the following areas: Mandatory
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Injuries: |
2 |
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Cause: |
Under Investigation |
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Cooperating Agencies: |
Madera County Sheriff, Mariposa County Sheriff, Madera County Fire, United States Forest Service, CAL OES, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CHP, Red Cross, PG&E, Cal Trans, and Madera County OES |
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Total Fire Personnel: |
469 |
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Total Fire Engines: |
51 |
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Total Fire crews: |
14 |
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Incident Management Team: |
CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 |
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Long/Lat: |
-119.6581/37.3433 |
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Conditions: |
Extreme fire conditions related to the current drought situation have hampered containment. Winds and spot fire conditions of ¼ to ½ mile ahead of the main fire created many challenges. Firefighters are hopeful that lower temperatures, a rise in humidity and less wind will provide them with the ability to establish containment lines, utilizing hand crews and dozers. Firefighter from throughout the central valley and the state are being deployed to defend homes in the area. The Red Cross is assisting with all evacuation shelters. With summer weather and extreme drought conditions, we are asking everyone to continue to use caution, “one less spark - one less wildfire”. For more information on how to prepare for wildfires, go to www.readyforwildfire.org .
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Phone Numbers |
(559) 658-2560 (xt 115 Junction Fire Information Line) |
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More Roads Open!
CA-41; Road 425A; and all roads on the west side of CA-41 except for 620, are now open to traffic.
Update: 3:54 P.M.
Update -- CA 41 is now open to traffic to Yosemite.
More information will be released as soon as it is made available.
Again CA-41 is now open to traffic heading in and out of Yosmeite National Park
Update: 1:12 P.M.
FEMA Provides Federal Funding to Junction Fire in Madera County, California
Update: 12:41 P.M.
ADVISORY --
CAL Fire says it is sending Air Ops to do a recon to find out what the status of the Junction Fire is.
Until we get confirmation, all information issued earlier remains the same.
Road Closures, still in effect.
500 structures still threatened
8 structures damaged -- one burned to the ground
1200 acres charred
As soon as we have more information we will immediately alert you.
Update: 11:46 A.M.
Two more extensions have been added to the CA Fire information line for the general public.
559-658-2560, ext. 115, ext. 113, ext. 112
Cal Fire Morning Update Posted at 7:06 A.M.
1200 Acres
| Junction Fire Incident Information: | |||
| Last Updated: | August 19, 2014 6:15 am | ||
| Date/Time Started: | August 18, 2014 1:50 pm | ||
| Administrative Unit: | CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit | ||
| County: | Madera County | ||
| Location: | off Road 425A, near the Hwy 41 and Hwy 49 junction in Oakhurst | ||
| Acres Burned - Containment: | 1,200 acres | ||
| Structures Threatened: | 500 | ||
| Structures Destroyed: | 8 | ||
| Evacuations: | For the latest evacuations go to:http://www.facebook.com/MaderaSheriffEvacuations are in effect for the following areas: Mandatory
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| Injuries: | 2 | ||
| Cause: | Under Investigation | ||
| Cooperating Agencies: | Madera County Sheriff, Mariposa County Sheriff, Madera County Fire, United States Forest Service, CAL OES, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CHP, Red Cross, PG&E, Cal Trans, and Madera County OES | ||
| Total Fire Personnel: | 469 | ||
| Total Fire Engines: | 51 | ||
| Total Fire crews: | 14 | ||
| Long/Lat: | -119.6581/37.3433 | ||
| Conditions: | Extreme fire conditions related to the current drought situation have hampered containment. Winds and spot fire conditions of ¼ to ½ mile ahead of the main fire created many challenges. Firefighters are hopeful that lower temperatures, a rise in humidity and less wind will provide them with the ability to establish containment lines, utilizing hand crews and dozers. Firefighter from throughout the central valley and the state are being deployed to defend homes in the area. The Red Cross is assisting with all evacuation shelters. With summer weather and extreme drought conditions, we are asking everyone to continue to use caution, “one less spark - one less wildfire”. For more information on how to prepare for wildfires, go to www.readyforwildfire.org. |
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| Phone Numbers | (559) 658-2560 (Fire Information Line) | ||
Junction Fire in Oakhurst, California: Looking at the fire from Pierce Circle in Oakhurst at approx 5:30 yesterday afternoon.
Photo credit: Tony Kuret
Junction Fire in Oakhurst California: looking from Road 425 B towards the fire during the late afternoon hours on Monday
Photo credit: Jerry Coney
PG&E Outages - 772 Oakhurst Customers - Estimated Time for Restoration 6:00 P.M. Tuesday
Tuesday SCHOOL CLOSURES:
SCHOOL CLOSURES:
Yosemite Unified School District has announced the following schools will be closed tomorrow due to the Oakhurst Fire:
Wasuma Elementary School – located on Highway 49 -- Ahwahnee
Ahwahnee Middle School -- located on Highway 49 -- Ahwahnee
Oakhurst Intermediate School – located on Indian Springs Road and Road 427 – Oakhurst
Yosemite High School -- – located on Road 427 – Oakhurst
Oakhurst Elementary School – located on Indian Springs Road and Road 427 – Oakhurst
SCHOOLS THAT REMAIN OPEN:
Rivergold Elementary – located on Road 400 – Coarsegold
Coarsegold Elementary – located on Road 415 -- Coarsegold
Madera County Sheriff John Anderson has issued
EVACUATION ORDERS -- 13,000
EVACUATION WARNINGS -- 2,500
The 13,000 evacuation Orders remain in effect.
Road Closures posted earlier (Highway 41 at Road 426, Road 222 and Road 274, Highway 41 and 222) also remain in effect.
TRAFFIC ALERT:
All Traffic heading into and out of Yosemite National Park cannot access by Highway 41. You must use an alternate route.
Drivers can take Highway 140 through Mariposa to get in and out of park.
All Traffic heading in an out of Bass Lake cannot access by way of Highway 41. You must use an alternate route.
Drivers must take Road 200 (O’Neals Turnoff from Highway 41 near Coarsegold) to North Fork, then take 274 into Bass Lake
The WEST side of Bass Lake (where Roads 274 and 222 meet) is closed to traffic straight to Highway 41.
10:40 P.M. Monday
Junction Fire in the Oakhurst Area
Sheriff John Anderson declares local emergency.
10:03 pm Pacific Time:
1200 acres have burned
No containment
Cause of Fire remains under investigation
8 structures have been damaged from the fire
500-plus homes are still threatened
600 Fire Fighters continue to battle the wildfire
Cal Fire is work with CAL OES for mutual aid to assist in defending structures
One Fire Fighter was injured and transported to an area hospital for evaluation.
Suburban Propane did NOT blow up. Only the office caught fire. Fire crews were able to combat flames before any more damage could occur.
Starting todayCAL FIRE will have a landline set up in the Sheriff’s Command Center for the general public to call about fire information.
559-658-2560; ext. 115
