AHWAHNEE – Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire northeast of the community of Ahwahnee.
At 3:45 p.m., resources from Cal Fire, Madera County Fire and the Sierra National Forest, along with air resources, were dispatched to Lonesome Oak Lane north of Bissett Station Road.
Oak Fire – photo Julie Fullmer
CHP and Madera County Sheriff’s deputies also responded to what has been dubbed the Oak Fire.
The first unit at scene reported the fire at about five acres with two structures immediately threatened.
Air Attack and air tankers are overhead.
Road 620 (Bissett Station Road) is closed between Road 628 and Old Yosemite Road.
At 4:16 p.m., the fire was reported at 5 to 10 acres, running uphill in thick brush. The Incident Commander requested two additional ground crews and two more dozers.
At 4:23 p.m., two more Large Air Tankers were requested.
At 4:31 p.m., the Incident Commander ordered five more Type 3 engines and four more hand crews. Deputies continue to go door to door notifying residents. An advisory has been issued on the north side of Road 620 from Road 628 east for all who are not under a mandatory evacuation.
At 5 p.m., Air Attack estimated the fire at 35 acres with a moderate rate of spread. At 5:30 p.m., the fire had grown to 100 acres.
At 5:47 p.m., the fire was estimated at 150 acres. Deputies continue to notify residents in the immediate area to be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
At 6:07 p.m., the Sierra National Forest dispatched four additional engines to the fire, and the Incident Commander requested two additional dozers to head up Worman Road.
By 6:15 p.m., the dozer line was complete half-way up the west flank with retardant drops supporting those efforts. Hand line and road systems are being utilized on the eastern flank. Air Attack reports that the leading edge is headed into the Railroad Fire burn scar, which will slow the forward progress.
A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Road 620/ Road 628, the Cedar Brook and Timber Loft communities, and Lonesome Oak Road. Advisories have been issued on Badger Hollow Trail, Buckeye Gap, Old Yosemite Road and Sunshine Mountain Road. A Red Cross evacuation center has been established at the Oakhurst Community Center located at 39800 Road 425B.
For continuing updates on the Oak Fire, follow the developments here.
