{"id":10562,"date":"2022-07-25T14:16:45","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T12:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=10562"},"modified":"2022-07-25T14:16:47","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T12:16:47","slug":"california-declares-emergency-as-wildfire-scorches-county-forces-evacuations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/california-declares-emergency-as-wildfire-scorches-county-forces-evacuations\/","title":{"rendered":"California declares emergency as wildfire scorches county, forces evacuations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

California\u2019s Oak Fire has scorched some 15,603 acres and forced thousands of evacuations outside Yosemite National Park. The wildfire broke out on Friday near Yosemite National Park.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County after the fire forced more than 6,000 people to evacuate their homes, a news release<\/span><\/a> from his office said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Sunday evening, the fire had consumed 15,603 acres (6,314 hectares), and was zero percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 2,000 firefighters and 17 helicopters have been assigned against the Oak Fire, Cal Fire said. Firefighters deployed air tankers, bulldozers and ground crews to battle the fast-moving wildfire just west of Yosemite National Park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fire quickly outflanked us. We couldn’t even attack it with the resources that we had on hand,\u201d Justin Macomb, a Cal Fire operations section chief, told the public meeting. \u201cIn my career, I haven’t seen fire behavior like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Oak Fire<\/a> has abruptly grown into one of California’s biggest blazes of the year fueled by dry weather and drought conditions that have gripped the country. The firefighters are facing tough conditions that included hot weather, low humidity and bone-dry vegetation caused by the worst drought in decades, said Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Oak<\/a>
Flames consume a home on Triangle Road as the Oak Fire burns in Mariposa County of California, on July 23, 2022. (Image Credit: AP Photo\/Noah Berger)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExplosive fire behavior is challenging firefighters,\u201d Cal Fire said in a statement that described the Oak Fire\u2019s activity as \u201cextreme with frequent runs, spot fires and group torching.\u201d The cause of the fire is still under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fire has destroyed 10 structures, damaged five and is threatening more than 2,600 others, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacific Gas & Electric said on its website that more than 3,100 homes and businesses in the area had lost power and there was no mention of when it would be restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Oak Fire is the largest of California’s currently active wildfires. The second-largest Washburn Fire, which was 79% contained by Friday, burned in and near southern Yosemite National Park for more than two weeks, ravaging 4,850 acres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A wildfire near Yosemite National Park has burned more than 6,500 acres. Authorities said it was California\u2019s fastest-growing fire of the season. https:\/\/t.co\/zsfAah08YM<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/e6lcCAvYn4<\/a><\/p>— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 23, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>